This World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a new free and comprehensive learning programme on screening, diagnosis, and management of cervical precancer, available on the WHO Academy online learning platform. The courses have been designed for service providers, including front-line health providers, policy-makers, programme managers, and advocates. This new learning programme supports the implementation of the WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative.
IARC estimates that in 2022 more than 660 000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer and almost 350 000 women died from this disease worldwide. The WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative calls for countries to reach the 90–70–90 targets by 2030 to put themselves on the path towards cervical cancer elimination: 90% of girls vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) by age 15 years; 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 years and again at 45 years; and 90% of women with cervical cancer receiving treatment.
Capacity-building of the necessary workforce, especially front-line health-care providers, to carry out screening and management of the screen-positive women in each country is essential to achieving the 90–70–90 targets, and this new learning programme will directly help to meet this need.
The learning programme is divided into five modules, each targeting a certain category of professionals, to deliver screening services and treatment of cervical precancer and cancer and support community participation. Target groups include health officials, public health experts, midwives, nurses, general practitioners, community health workers, supervisors, and medical or nursing students. The modules include e-learning and guidance during on-site practical sessions.
IARC has previously developed and launched well-tested and validated training resources that are freely available on the IARC website, such as the Atlas of Colposcopy and the Atlas of Visual Inspection of the Cervix, and are accessed by an average of 100 000 visitors per month. Through these and similar courses, IARC has trained hundreds of master trainers and providers to perform cervical cancer screening tests, interpret findings, perform colposcopy, and treat cervical premalignant lesions using various techniques.
