World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day: The 90-70-90 Roadmap

With over 660,000 new cases and 350,000 fatalities in 2022, cervical cancer is the fourth most frequent malignancy in women worldwide (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative

Go to source). On 17 November 2025, the world marks the first officially designated World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, aiming to rally global action to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem (2^✔ ✔Trusted Source
World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

Go to source).

What is Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer is a type of malignancy that occurs in the cervix, commonly caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPV). Because we have effective vaccines, screening tools and treatments, it is considered one of the most preventable and treatable cancers (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative

Go to source). The fact that the World Health Organization (WHO) and its Member States have set concrete targets means that elimination is within reach.

World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

The date 17 November holds special importance. It was on this day in 2020 that WHO launched its Global Strategy to accelerate cervical cancer elimination. In May 2025, the Seventy-Eighth World Health Assembly adopted resolution WHA78.8, officially designating 17 November each year as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day beginning in 2025 (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

Go to source). These steps confirm the commitment of countries around the world to tackle this disease.

The 90-70-90 Targets for Elimination of Cervical Cancer

At the heart of the strategy are clear, measurable targets for 2030:

• 90% of girls are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15.
• 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by age 45.
90% of women identified with cervical disease (pre-cancer or cancer) were treated appropriately.

If countries meet these targets and sustain progress, modelling shows that eliminating cervical cancer as a major public health problem is feasible within the next few decades.

Importance of Cervical Cancer Elimination

Cervical cancer disproportionately affects women in low- and middle-income countries, where access to prevention, screening and treatment services is limited. The elimination agenda is not only about reducing deaths but also about health equity and ensuring that all girls and women, regardless of where they live, have access to life-saving care (1^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative

Go to source). By marking this day, communities and health systems are reminded that the fight against cervical cancer is part of the broader drive for universal health coverage and women's empowerment.

Being a Part of the World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

Everyone has a role to play:

• Individuals and families: Ensure adolescent girls receive the HPV vaccine on schedule. Women aged according to national guidelines should attend screening and act promptly on results.
• Communities and civil society: Raise awareness with events, stories and campaigns. Use social media, local groups, and survivor voices to break stigma around cervical cancer.
• Governments and health systems: Prioritise sustained financing, robust data systems, supply of HPV vaccines and screening tools, and training of healthcare workers. The 2025 observance themes emphasise the need for “bold, united action” on service access.
• All stakeholders together: On 17 November, support the global movement by lighting up landmarks in teal (the awareness colour), hosting education activities or simply sharing the message: prevention is possible.

What Elimination of Cervical Cancer Means for India and Other High-Burden Countries

In India and similar high-burden settings, the elimination of cervical cancer can yield enormous health gains. With high incidence and constrained health-system capacity, focusing on reaching underserved populations with vaccination and screening can dramatically reduce deaths, suffering and financial hardship. The global strategy supports national programmes in such countries to scale up access and integrate services into primary healthcare. As this global day emphasises, every woman counts in the drive to eliminate cervical cancer.

World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day 2025

World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day 2025 is more than a calendar event- it is a rallying cry. The tools exist. The targets are clear. The commitment is global. What remains is sustained action, across all levels, to ensure that no woman dies of a preventable disease simply because she lacked access. On 17 November, let us all commit one act, whether it is scheduling a screening, vaccinating a daughter, supporting a local awareness event, or advocating for policy change. Together, we can turn the promise of elimination into reality.

References:

1. Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative - (https://www.who.int/initiatives/cervical-cancer-elimination-initiative)
2. World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day - (https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-cervical-cancer-elimination-day/2025)
3. World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day - (https://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA78/A78_R8-en.pdf)

Source-Medindia