As rates of cervical cancer and deaths rise at an alarming rate in the Region and countries grapple with the challenge of managing the disease in poorly-resourced settings, WHO warns that without an effective intervention, global cervical cancer deaths will increase to 460 000 by 2040 –and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) will have the greatest relative increase.

WHO recommends a life-course approach to prevention and control of cervical cancer with age appropriate, cost-effective interventions that target the disease along the life course. These range from interventions that prevent infection with cancer causing HPV strains, to screening for precancer and early cancer to diagnosis, prompt treatment of cancer and palliative care.