Cancer Society of Finland tables novel idea to further HPV vaccinations in developing world

Helsinki, 15 January 2008

In an effort to ensure that women and girls in developing countries get access to costly vaccinations against the human papilloma virus (HPV), the Cancer Society of Finland has come up with an inventive strategy.

It has recommended to the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) that it spearhead a campaign whereby a woman or girl in a developing country receives the vaccination or screening for every woman or girl who is vaccinated in a developed country.

The initiative is aimed at tackling the growing health inequalities between rich and poor countries. HPV vaccinations have been widely recommended in Europe and other parts of the world. But the vaccinations are expensive, meaning that developing countries, such as India, that should be able to benefit from HPV vaccination programmes cannot.

Developing countries bear the brunt of cervical cancer incidence worldwide. Each year an estimated half a million women contract cervical cancer. Over 80% of them live in poor countries that have neither the infrastructure or resources for cervical cancer screening, which is used for prevention and early diagnosis in some wealthy countries.

India has been mooted as a possible base for initiating the campaign, as it carries a heavy burden of cervical cancer incidence – 25% of the world total – and for the most part has sufficient infrastructure and cancer registries to follow the proposed programme.

The proposal's proponents say they are open to suggestions concerning the carrying out of such a mass vaccination initiative, and many details need to be worked out. But the initiative is expected to mark an important turn in focussing attention on the HPV vaccination needs of women in the developing world.

Further information:
Dr Harri Vertio
General Secretary
Finnish Cancer Society
tel: +358-9-1353 3210
www.cancer.fi