PR88346

LONDON, March 4, 2021 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

On HPV Awareness Day, the International Papillomavirus Society is urging women

to attend delayed cervical screenings and for all interrupted services to

re-start as thousands continue to miss out on vital HPV care, with deadly

consequences. The IPVS is also calling for global vaccine equity.

One woman dies from cervical cancer every 2 minutes but HPV is a virus that can

be beaten, if services are rolled out and taken up. In higher income countries,

cervical screenings have reduced from 70% to 30-40% and 32% of women are

unlikely to attend appointments due to Covid-19 fears.

IPVS calls for everyone to 'Ask About HPV' -- speak to local politicians,

healthcare practitioners and seek information at www.askabouthpv.org.

86% of cervical cancers occur in developing countries where the story is even

more serious. In sub-Saharan Africa, with the highest rate of cervical cancer

in the world, cervical screening is available to less than 5% of eligible

women.

Professor Margaret Stanley, President of IPVS, says "It's unfathomable that

there is such inequality in the roll-out of crucial, inexpensive medical care.

Young women are missing vital appointments now which could be fatal. More than

350,000 people die annually from HPV-related illnesses. Early prevention and

treatment is key -- the world needs to step up."

IPVS is hosting a high-level panel featuring WHO'S Dr Princess Notembe Simelela

amongst other distinguished speakers at 3pm GMT on 4th March to define how we

can accelerate progress against HPV in the era of Covid-19, which the public

and media are welcome to attend.

Approximately 20% of men have HPV DNA detected in their genital area, and cases

are increasing every year, leading to deaths from anal, penile and throat

cancers. Screening and treatment to prevent these cancers is not widely

available.

Dr Joel Palefsky, HPV Awareness Campaign Chair and expert on HPV-related cancer

in men, said, "Quite rightly the focus has been on cervical cancer, the leading

cause of death in women from HPV-related cancer. However, anal and throat

cancers are becoming increasingly common, and men with HIV or immune

suppression are particularly high risk. We need to dispel the stigma."

Notes to Editors

Sources: Professor Gordon Wishart, Chief Medical Officer,Check4Cancer

Check4cancer.com, Eliminating cervical cancer in the COVID-19 era | Nature

Cancer Delayed Cancer Screenings—A Second Look (ehrn.org) (

https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3083500-1&h=4176206865&u=https%3A%2F%2Femea01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com%2F%3Furl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fehrn.org%252Farticles%252Fdelayed-cancer-screenings-a-second-look%252F%26data%3D04%257C01%257C%257C6949a7655195470ba99508d8de2d62d9%257C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%257C1%257C0%257C637503633795456298%257CUnknown%257CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%253D%257C1000%26sdata%3DyKfqPljF2Z2xfJCG4OLjzgVpcjgveESooqV3AXhbpFQ%253D%26reserved%3D0&a=Delayed+Cancer+Screenings%E2%80%94A+Second+Look+(ehrn.org)

)

SOURCE: International Papillomavirus Society

CONTACT: Sarah Baldwin sarahannebaldwin@hotmail.co.uk +44(0) 7776 211518