This World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a free, comprehensive learning programme on the screening, diagnosis, and management of cervical precancer, accessible via the WHO Academy online learning platform. The courses are designed for service providers, including front-line health workers, policy-makers, programme managers, and advocates, and aim to support the global implementation of the WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative.
According to IARC, over 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2022, with nearly 350,000 deaths worldwide. The WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative sets the 90–70–90 targets for 2030: 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by ages 35 and 45, and 90% of women with cervical cancer receiving treatment. Achieving these targets requires strengthening the workforce to carry out screening and manage screen-positive cases, a need directly addressed by this new learning programme.
The programme is structured into five modules, each tailored to specific professional groups to deliver effective screening and treatment of cervical precancer and cancer while promoting community engagement. Target participants include health officials, public health experts, midwives, nurses, general practitioners, community health workers, supervisors, and medical or nursing students. Each module combines e-learning with guidance for on-site practical sessions to enhance skills and knowledge.
IARC has a strong history of capacity-building in cervical cancer prevention through validated, freely available resources such as the Atlas of Colposcopy and the Atlas of Visual Inspection of the Cervix, accessed by around 100,000 visitors per month. These resources, along with previous training initiatives, have equipped hundreds of master trainers and providers with the skills to perform cervical cancer screening, interpret findings, conduct colposcopies, and treat cervical premalignant lesions using a range of techniques.
This new learning programme represents a critical step in empowering health workers globally, supporting countries in reaching the 90–70–90 targets, and advancing the ultimate goal of cervical cancer elimination.
