Why Us

OUR MISSION

GIAHC serves as a platform to empower people, communities and societies to reduce the disease burden from HPV and cervical cancers through collective engagement, advocacy, collaboration and education.

BACKGROUND

Why is HPV and cervical cancer important?

HPV, or the human papillomavirus, causes a variety of diseases and cancers in humans, the most serious consequence of which is cervical cancer. 80% of cervical cancer cases and 85% of cervical cancer related deaths occur in the developing world. Most women present for treatment in very advanced stages of the disease and therein lies the challenge. However, early detection can easily decrease the number of advanced cervical cancer cases, the financial burden of treating advanced cases and the loss of life secondary to the disease. Lack of knowledge, poor infrastructure, and limited finances make progress in the foreseeable future questionable. Hence, creative models through which people, communities and societies engage collectively, with or without help from the government, are necessary for successful control of this cancer.

CERVICAL CANCER: AN IRONY

This is the ONLY cancer for which we know the cause (99% of cervical cancers are caused by a virus - the Human papillomavirus (HPV), we know how to detect them in early stages by simple and inexpensive methods (very few cancers can be detected in such a simple and inexpensive way), and we have safe and effective treatments if diagnosed early,
YET
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of all cancer deaths among women in the world.
WE CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS, AND YOU CAN HELP!

CERVICAL CANCER: A DISEASE OF THE YOUNG

Unlike other cancers, cervical cancer is a disease of the young. It peaks between the ages of 35-55 years, not only taking the lives of young women but devastating young families with children along the way.

CERVICAL CANCER: ALMOST COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE

With proper education, regular screening and vaccination, cervical cancer is almost completely preventable.

THE PAP TEST: A LIFE SAVER

The Pap test or Pap smear (in which a clinician obtains a sample of cells from the cervix) has reduced the incidence of cervical cancer by 75% in the past 50 years in the United States. Newer screening tests are also available.

THE HPV VACCINES: PREVENTATIVE

Two HPV vaccines are now available to give near total protection against 70% of cervical cancers.

THE DEVELOPING WORLD

MYTH: The lack of advanced treatment options account for the greatest global inequity in cervical cancer in developing countries.**

FACT: Poor political will and lack of awareness that cervical cancer is a preventable public health problem are the main causes of high rates of this disease in developing parts of the world.

ALARMING CERVICAL CANCER STATISTICS

Number of cases per year: 500,000
Number of deaths per year: 250,000

EVERY TWO MINUTES, a woman dies of cervical cancer - a cancer that can be almost completely prevented!

YOU can make a difference! JOIN The Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer today. Become a Global Coalition member to find long-term solutions to this preventable disease.