anglais

Honourable members of the World Health Organization,
Every minute, one woman loses her life to a disease that we can prevent. Each year, hundreds of millions of individuals are infected with a virus called Human Papillomavirus, or HPV.

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the world. Despite it’s high prevalence, it often gets less attention than other health threats. About 80% of sexually active people will get it at some point. Most infections cause no symptoms and clear naturally, but some types can be deadly.

High-risk types cause around 600,000 new cervical cancer cases each year, and sadly, over 300,000 women die from this preventable disease. HPV causes cancers beyond the uterus and vagina, such as throat, anus and penis cancer, therefore, it also affect men

This burden is especially heavy in low- and middle-income countries, where vaccination and screening are harder to get. Many women find out too late as screening services are missing, too expensive, or avoided due to stigma or lack of information.

We have proven solutions — but they are still not used enough. The HPV vaccine can prevent up to 90% of cervical cancers if given before sexual activity. Sadly, global vaccination rates are far below the 90% target. Men are often left out, even though vaccinating men also reduces virus spread and protects future partners.

Regular screening is just as important. Simple tests like Pap smears or HPV DNA tests can detect early changes before cancer appears. Early detection means early treatment and greatly lowers the risk of invasive cancer. But in many countries, women cannot easily get these life-saving tests.

Therefore, I encourage the WHO to help countries and partners focus on three key actions:
1️⃣ Increase vaccination worldwide:
Invest in international vaccination programs that include women or men. Help countries give vaccines in schools and communities, free of charge. Run clear public campaigns to fight false information and build trust in vaccines.

Improve screening and early treatment:
Ensure every woman has access to affordable, regular screening by age 35 and again by age 45. Expand mobile clinics, self-sampling and train local health workers to reach remote places. Remove barriers like high costs.

3️⃣ Invest in innovation
Support global research to develop therapeutic HPV vaccines for those already infected. Current vaccines prevent future infections but do not cure existing ones. Millions of women already have untreated HPV lesions — they deserve better options.

By focusing on these three pillars — prevention, early detection and treatment innovation — we can move closer to the WHO’s goal to end cervical cancer as a public health problem. We can protect millions of women and men, reduce cancer deaths and save billions in treatment costs worldwide.
I call on the WHO to keep HPV high on the global agenda and lead the way to make universal HPV prevention and care real for everyone.

Let us invest today for a healthier tomorrow. Thank you for your trust and commitment.

Lederle