Global cervical cancer vaccine coverage remains low at 31% – WHO

The World Health Organisation appears to be falling short of what it considers one of its most ambitious public-health goals of the decade, eliminating cervical cancer by 2030.

Despite the global 90-70-90 percent targets for vaccination, screening and treatment, respectively, the world has reached only 31 percent HPV vaccine coverage, far below expectations.

This concern was highlighted during a live social-media session on Monday, as WHO officially marked its first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.

“Currently cervical cancer vaccine coverage is just about 31 percent, underscoring the urgency to scale-up in order to meet WHO’s goals,” said Prebo Barango, WHO cervical cancer elimination initiative specialist, during the event.

Cervical cancer remains the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with around 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths in 2022, according to WHO.

Adding clinical context, Malaysian researcher and leading expert on cervical cancer, Woo Yin Ling, explained during the live session that, “It is caused by the cancer strain of the Human Papilloma Virus with symptoms ranging from bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, bleeding during sex and sometimes shortness of breath.”

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The burden of the disease remains heaviest in low- and middle-income countries, where incidence and mortality rates are highest. This, experts note, reflects deep structural inequities, from limited access to national HPV vaccination and cervical screening to inadequate treatment services and wider socioeconomic barriers.

Three pillars to eliminating the tumour globally

One of WHO’s most ambitious goals is to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, anchored on three strategic pillars: vaccinating 90 percent of girls, screening 70 percent of women at least twice in their lifetime, and ensuring that 90 percent of women with early-stage cervical cancer receive timely treatment.

“These strategies are important because cancer is preventable and we have all it takes to do so,” Barango emphasised.

Experts stress that women in low-income countries, in particular, need to pay closer attention to their health, even as many juggle the heavy responsibilities of caring for children, managing households, and supporting aging parents. Despite these challenges, they note that prioritising regular check-ups and timely care is essential to reducing preventable deaths.

Burden in Nigeria

According to the World Health Organisation, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Nigeria. With more than 60 million Nigerian women at risk, the country records over 12,000 new cases every year. Despite being up to 90 percent preventable, the disease still claims more than 7,000 lives annually, WHO reports.

Experts attribute this high burden to low public awareness, limited access to the HPV vaccine, and gaps in screening and early detection. As a result, many women are diagnosed late, when treatment is more difficult, more expensive, and far less effective.

How women can prevent it

Vaccination, regular check-ups, screening, and timely treatment of early-detected cervical cancer significantly improve women’s chances of survival.

According to Stephanie Omoarebun, a public health and diagnostics specialist, early detection begins with awareness of key symptoms.
“An unusual bleeding in-between periods, pelvic pain, and bleeding during intercourse are common signs,” she noted. She stressed that cervical cancer does not have to be a death sentence. “People don’t have to die of cervical cancer because early detection is 90 percent preventable,” she added.

Experts state that cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally, with about 85 percent of these deaths occurring in developing countries. Yet experts emphasise that the disease is highly preventable.

“Cervical cancer remains one of the most common and deadly cancers among women in Africa. Yet, it is also one of the most preventable. With the tools now available – HPV vaccination, screening and timely treatment – elimination is within reach. The challenge before us is to make these tools accessible to every girl and every woman, everywhere,” said Mohamed Janabi, WHO regional director for Africa, in a press statement.

He noted that progress is underway. “Across the WHO African Region, momentum is building. Thirty-two Member States have introduced HPV vaccination into their national immunisation plans, reaching nearly half of all eligible girls. Several more countries have rolled out the vaccine this year, and at least eight others plan to do so in 2026. Each of these introductions represents protection against both a virus and against loss, suffering, and lives cut short too soon,” he stated.

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Cervical cancer is primarily caused by persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). Women living with HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than women without HIV, making prevention and screening even more critical.

Omoarebun emphasised that, beyond structural challenges, negligence or lack of regular screening among women also contributes to late detection and preventable deaths.

What the government is doing

The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating cervical cancer in Nigeria by 2030, in line with the World Health Organisation’s global targets. Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Salako, restated this pledge while receiving the Cervical Cancer Elimination Taskforce in Abuja. He underscored the urgency of prioritising preventive measures, especially given the country’s fragile health infrastructure.

“Given Nigeria’s shaky health system due to poor access and lack of funding, it is better to prevent cervical cancer than to cure,” he noted.

As of 2023, HPV vaccines are being administered across 16 states, with experts projecting expanded coverage in the coming years as Nigeria intensifies efforts toward eliminating the disease. This scaling-up, officials say, marks a critical step in bridging gaps in prevention, early detection, and equitable access to lifesaving interventions.