First Lady Jeannette Kagame has called for efforts to reduce the prices of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and adoption of innovative technologies in the world’s sustained fight against cervical cancer.

She was speaking during a virtual event held by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday, November 17, to mark the Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action 2021.

The day was first marked last year when the WHO launched a Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem, with a resolution passed by 194 countries.

Joining other leaders in the virtual event, Mrs. Kagame added her voice to that of Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director General of the WHO in urging for concerted efforts from governments, vaccine manufacturers among other partners for improved access to important tools used in the fight against cervical cancer in the world.

"I join Dr Tedros in inviting industries, the private sector, researchers and development partners to work with our governments to reduce the price of HPV vaccines, HPV DNA tests and adoption of innovative technologies, such as the WHO’s AI (Artificial Intelligence) visual examination tools,” she said.

Here, she noted that she hopes for local production of HPV vaccines on the African continent,

"I hope for an African continent where these vaccines are produced locally with the support of our every ally who I believe shares our vision of health autonomy for all nations.”

She reiterated the importance of mass screenings.

"We all know that early detection is by far the most effective method of winning the fatality of cervical cancer. Mass screenings are essential to our mission, therefore, they should be considered an extension of the human right to the highest attainable standard of life and health, conducive to living life in dignity,” she said.

"Since the introduction of cervical cancer screening in Rwanda in 2015, over 170,000 women have been examined. I am confident that by this time next year, new partnerships will have helped raise this number further,” she added.

As far as vaccination is concerned, Rwanda has surpassed the target by the WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy of having 90 percent of girls under 15 fully vaccinated against HPV.

Since 2011, Rwanda’s immunisation for young girls of age 12 has consistently stood above 90 percent.

Noting that research has emerged in favour of also inoculating young boys against HPV in order to reduce transmission rates, the First Lady said developing nations need to be equipped to double their efforts in the rollout of vaccines.

Last year, the WHO launched a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, aiming to achieve three targets within the next ten years, including: vaccinating 90 percent of all girls against HPV by the age of 15, expanding access to screening services for 70 per cent of women, and expanding access to treatment for 90 per cent of women with precancerous lesions and palliative care for 90 per cent of women with invasive cancer.

In his remarks during the event, Dr Tedros said that the Covid-19 pandemic has caused setbacks in the progress towards these targets because, as it disrupted health services.

For instance, he noted that the proportion of girls with access to HPV vaccine globally has fallen to 13 percent, from 15 percent (where it was before the pandemic).

In event, the First Ladies of Botswana, Burkina Faso, South Africa also made a case for more efforts in the fight against cervical cancer.

"We need to increase the HPV vaccination of young girls. The victory against cervical cancer requires many partners, Research and Development, national capacity, sensitisation of the population and access to healthcare by the population,” said Adjoavi Sika Kabore, the First Lady of Burkina Faso.

Her counterpart Neo Jane Masisi of Botswana also stressed the importance of vaccination and testing:

"HPV testing and vaccination are critical to eliminating cervical cancer amongst women. Botswana has been experiencing challenges with access to supplies due to the pandemic supply constraints. We have the tools to eliminate cervical cancer.”