A new initiative aimed at eliminating cervical cancer across the Pacific has received a funding boost of NZ$5.1 million (US$3 million). The programme is led by Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for Pacific and Global Health at the University of Auckland in collaboration with regional partners. The funding, provided through the Matariki Fund administered by Dame Jacinda Ardern, will support the rollout and expansion of proven cervical cancer prevention measures across Pacific nations.
Cervical cancer is largely preventable but continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among Pacific women. In some Pacific countries, incidence rates are reported to be up to nine times higher than those in Australasia. The new initiative aims to expand access to preventive services and strengthen local health systems to address this major health disparity.
The programme will focus on increasing access to key prevention and early detection strategies, including boosting HPV vaccination coverage among girls, expanding cervical self-testing services for women and improving diagnostic and treatment pathways for pre-cancerous lesions and invasive cancer. It will also establish a coalition of Pacific women leaders to strengthen workforce development, enhance health system capacity and support the use of digital health infrastructure across the region.
The initiative will initially focus on the Cook Islands and Niue before gradually expanding to other Pacific countries. By aligning national programmes with regional partners and women leaders, the project aims to create a coordinated approach to cervical cancer prevention and care across the Pacific.
The programme will also collaborate with existing regional initiatives such as the EPICC programme and the Polynesian Health Corridors, which are already working to improve cancer prevention and healthcare access in the region. These partnerships are expected to help scale effective interventions, reduce duplication of efforts and strengthen overall regional health systems.
The initiative aligns with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, which aims to achieve the “90–70–90” targets by 2030. These goals include vaccinating 90 percent of girls against HPV, ensuring 70 percent of women undergo screening by ages 35 and 45, and providing treatment to 90 percent of women diagnosed with pre-cancerous or cancerous conditions.
Health experts emphasise that the funding represents a major step toward a collaborative, Pacific-led approach to eliminating cervical cancer. By strengthening leadership, governance and regional partnerships, the initiative seeks to build sustainable health systems and improve long-term health equity for Pacific women. Pacific women leaders will play a central role in implementing the programme in partnership with national health authorities and regional organisations, ensuring that solutions are tailored to local needs and communities.
