Cervical cancer: the cancer of inequalities

Cervical cancer is an unfortunate indicator of global health inequities. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer in women, with an estimated 604,000 new cases appearing in 2020. According to the WHO, of the 342,000 global deaths in 2020, about 90% occur in Low and Middle Income countries (LMIC). 

The tragic aspect of cervical cancer is that it is largely preventable. We estimate that more than 95% of cervical cancer cases are a result of a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which is typically transmitted through sex. HPV is a group of more than 150 related viruses, although HPV 16 and HPV-18 are largely associated with increased risk of cervical cancer.  A HPV vaccine exists to protect against most types of HPV that are linked with cancer. However, the vaccine should be administered at a young age (between 9 to 12 years old)and up to 26 years old at the latest. 

Unfortunately, less than 30% of LMIC have introduced HPV vaccination and less than 3% of adolescents are vaccinated against HPV. The combination with low cervical cancer screenings means that many women do not find out about their HPV-related cervical cancer until it is too late, leading to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. According to the WHO, by 2030 it will kill more than 443,000 women per year in the world if no concrete action is taken urgently. 98% of these deaths will occur in developing countries, with 90% of them in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cervical cancer is indicative of health inequalities and gender inequalities. Its burden rests solely on women and girls. Globally it is the 4th most common cancer in women, despite being largely preventable in the first place. With vaccinations and screenings, more than 340,000 deaths could be prevented every year. 

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Burkina Faso – A Compounding and Complex Humanitarian Crisis

Active in Burkina Faso since 2006,  Doctors of the World (DotW) has continued to provide aid as this humanitarian crisis unfolded. Our team has provided support through comprehensive, free, quality care for children under 5 years of age with severe malnutrition in health centers and regional hospitals in the Sahel and Center-North. They further assist state health personnel in outpatient care and in data collection and analysis, and management of referrals, in order to reduce maternal and infant mortality. 

Another key focus point is the training of health personnel, the maintenance of medical and technical equipment in health centers. DotW also works to provide primary health care, including mental health care for survivors of gender-based violence, to the most vulnerable people in the Sahel region and in the neighboring North-Central region. 

To meet the needs of the population, in 2020 Doctors of the World opened a humanitarian emergency program in Kongoussi, in the center-north of Burkina Faso, where there is a shortage of care. This program consists of mobile clinics that provide free primary healthcare, mental health and psychosocial support, as well as prevention and management of Gender-based Violence (GBV). Our efforts also focus on strengthening individual and community empowerment in terms of access to health rights. In 2021, DotW provided 103,764 medical consultations and treated 950 severely acute malnourished children. 

To help address this growing humanitarian crisis, Doctors of the World has received funding from the European Union this year of 800,000 euros, although the response of the international community is insufficient to meet the humanitarian needs from the country. It is crucial that the international community come to support Burkina Faso in their time of need. We must stand in support of Burkinabé communities, and work with them to resolve this crisis as quickly as possible. 

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