Moving towards equitable cervical cancer screening for indigenous peoples

Moving towards equitable cervical cancer screening for indigenous peoples

With cervical cancer rates rising in Canada, efforts to eliminate the disease are focusing on HPV vaccination, screening, early diagnosis and timely treatment. For Indigenous Peoples, however, achieving elimination also requires screening pathways that are equitable, culturally safe and community-led. Cervical cancer remains one of the world’s most preventable cancers, yet it is still the fourth most common cancer (1) among women globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a target to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, defined as fewer than four cases per 100,000 people with a cervix, through three key interventions: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a comprehensive approach to cervical cancer prevention, including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, cervical cancer screening, early diagnosis, and timely treatment of precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancer. (2)