With the goal of offering innovative diagnostic solutions through its Global Access Program to countries that need it most, Roche is supporting the efforts of healthcare agencies, policymakers and funding institutions to bring rapid, scalable and clinically-validated human papillomavirus (HPV) screening tests for cervical cancer prevention to Kenya and Nigeria.
"Nine out of 10 women who die from cervical cancer live in low- and middle-income countries."4
"The likelihood that a woman living with HIV will develop invasive cervical cancer is up to six times higher than for a woman who is not living with HIV."5
"Every country must introduce and scale-up HPV screening for women between 30 and 49 years old, and ensure appropriate treatment and follow-up."6
Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, 24 September 2018
"Elimination of cervical cancer as a global health issue is within reach for all countries. We know what works, and we know how to prevent and control this disease."7
Dr Princess Nono Simelela, Assistant Director-General for Family, Women,
Children and Adolescents, WHO
For women living with HIV, having an HPV infection is an even bigger concern – they are in fact six times more likely to develop invasive cervical cancer.5 There is a need to increase HPV vaccination and increase access to cervical screening in low and middle income countries, where the problem of HIV and HPV is most prevalent.
Australia is set to be the first country to eliminate cervical cancer. The country is making great strides thanks to its national HPV vaccination program, and the change to HPV in their national screening program as the first line, primary test. Learn more about the Australian state of Victoria, and what they have done to achieve the world leading cervical cancer mortality rate of only 1.6 in 100,000 women.9
Did you know that many Malaysian women are hesitant to be screened for cervical cancer? The ROSE (Removing Obstacles to Cervical Screening) Foundation is an international collaboration between Australia and Malaysia that has dramatically increased cervical cancer screening rates in Malaysian women, with the aim to reach women in both urban and rural settings.
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