Did you know that HIV, HPV and cervical cancer are closely connected? For women living with HIV, contracting the HPV is a huge concern – they are five times more likely to develop invasive cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer kills more than 300,000 women every year and 600,000 cases of cervical cancer are recorded annually around the globe. In some parts of the world, cervical cancer is on the brink of elimination; vaccination and regular screening can prevent most cervical cancers. The true tragedy is that these lifesaving methods are not available to all women.

Women from low and middle income countries are the most likely to contract cervical cancer. While 90% of young women and girls from wealthy nations have been immunised against HPV infections, only 10% of girls in lower income countries have access to the vaccine.

There is a high chance for an HIV infected woman to contract cervical cancer. Even if she takes her HIV medication accurately, cervical cancer could kill her. Most women living with HIV and cervical cancer reside in eastern and southern Africa.

The need to increase vaccination and cervical screening rates in low and middle income countries is urgent. The 600,000 annual cases of cervical cancer will grow to 1 million if we don’t change our worldwide approach to cervical cancer prevention now.