This compendium brings together 12 country case studies of strategic innovation in the fight against cervical cancer from across four Commonwealth regions: Africa, the Pacific, Asia and the Caribbean.
Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable. That this remains one of the leading causes of cancer death among women worldwide is not a reflection of scientific limitation – it instead reflects where those women live, and what their health systems can offer them.
The case studies presented in this volume span the full breadth of the WHO 90–70–90 elimination framework: prevention through HPV vaccination, early detection through screening, and treatment and systems strengthening.
Countries were selected by the Commonwealth International Task Force for Cervical Cancer Elimination on the basis of:
- the presence of a clearly identified strategic innovation
- the availability of credible programme data and evidence
- whether the approach offers transferable lessons for other Commonwealth member countries
- the need to represent the diversity of contexts in the Commonwealth – small island developing states, large federal systems, high- and low-income settings, varied health system architectures, and different epidemiological profiles.
Each case study follows a consistent analytical framework, enabling meaningful comparison and cross-learning. The framework, which was developed in consultation with country focal points and Task Force members, includes:
- a contextual background on the cervical cancer burden and health system landscape
- a detailed description of the national intervention and its key components
- an assessment of outcomes and evidence
- lessons learned and specific challenges encountered
- recommendations for national and cross-Commonwealth application.
