UPDATED 6 years ago

HPV and Cervical Cancer in the MENA Region

Explore this map to learn more about the burdens of HPV and cervical cancer across the MENA region.

Cervical cancer, caused by HPV, is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that all countries proceed with a nationwide introduction of HPV vaccination to prevent transmission and future cervical cancer cases. However, as of December 2018, out of the countries included in this map, only three have integrated the HPV vaccine into their national immunization programs, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Israel and Libya. With projected increases in deaths due to cervical cancer by 2040, there is an urgent need to increase political will and fight stigma and misinformation around HPV and cervical cancer.

The MENA Coalition for HPV Elimination is an initiative of the Tunisian Center for Public Health that brings together several NGOs, researchers, clinicians and civil society activists from the Middle East and North Africa region. We aim to strengthen cooperation and partnership among national organizations involved in human rights and health promotion for women, adolescents and vulnerable populations and to foster dialogue on HPV and cervical cancer. We also work to drive momentum around the implementation of national strategies for the detection and management of cervical cancer and the implementation of HPV vaccination as part of national immunization programs.

Learn more about the coalition’s work here and see updates on Facebook and Twitter.

This map was developed using data from GLOBOCAN 2018, which is produced by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Reference: Cancer Today. (2018, September). Retrieved October 18, 2018, from https://gco.iarc.fr/.