Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, Director-General World Health Organisation (WHO), addressed global health issues on Thursday – yesterday, January 16 – revealing that cervical cancer is the fourth-most common cancer in women worldwide, causing an estimated 660,000 cases and 350,000 deaths annually.
The WHO boss stressed that cervical cancer is one of the few cancers that could be prevented and treated if detected early, pointing out that most cases and deaths occur in low and middle-income countries that lack access to vaccines, screening and treatment.
Noting that many countries are currently raising awareness about cervical cancer this January, Ghebreyesus explained that the WHO global initiative launched in November 2020 is aimed at eliminating cervical cancer.
”Since then, numerous countries have introduced vaccines to prevent the disease, and many are rolling out advanced diagnostics,” he enthused.
Ghebreyesus emphasised that eliminating cervical cancer is achievable if all girls and women have access to vaccines, tests and treatments, stating that cervical cancer prevention is part of WHO’s broader efforts to promote and protect maternal health, the theme for World Health Day this year.
Regarding H5 avian influenza, he reported that 66 cases were recorded globally in 2024, the highest since 2015, while two cases, including one death, have already been reported in 2025.
He stressed the importance of controlling the virus’s spread among animals to prevent human transmission, urging countries to strengthen biosecurity measures and share viral samples with WHO’s global surveillance system.
