08 Mar International Women’s Day – Joint Statement from the GAVI Alliance and the Union for International Cancer Control
GAVI Alliance & the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC)
Geneva, 8 March 2011 – Thankfully, women have more rights to health in 2011 than they did a century ago when the first International Women’s Day was celebrated.
Yet, despite the progress, every year some 270,000 women die from cervical cancer and 500,000 receive a new diagnosis – 4 out of 5 of which are in developing countries. But now, safe and effective HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccines are available that can prevent 70% of cervical cancer cases.
Recognising the benefits of the HPV vaccines, many industrialised countries have already introduced them into routine immunisation for girls and young women. Many parents too have invested in their daughters’ health by paying for the vaccines out of their family budget.