KUALA LUMPUR, August 4 — Cervical cancer remains a significant global health challenge, ranking as the fourth most common cancer among women, with 660,000 new cases reported in 2022. Socio-economic factors in low- and middle-income countries exacerbate the issue, affecting vaccination, screening, and treatment rates. In Malaysia, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women aged 15 to 44, with a high mortality rate due to factors such as early sexual activity and HPV infection.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set ambitious targets to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, including vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15 and ensuring 70% of women undergo high-performance screening. Despite a strong HPV vaccination program in Malaysia and government-run cervical screening initiatives, uptake remains low. Improving education, reducing stigma, and enhancing accessibility to diagnostic and treatment facilities are crucial steps towards achieving the goal of cervical cancer elimination by 2030.
