The Sharjah Declaration 3.0 sets goals for eradicating cervical cancer

During the recent 3rd Cervical Cancer Forum (CCF), the Sharjah Declaration 3.0, a milestone letter detailing the roadmap for the complete removal of cervical cancer as a public health concern, was unveiled. 

The declaration underlines the value of ongoing collaboration and partnerships among governments, healthcare professionals, and civil society organizations, in addition to continued spending on cervical cancer preventive measures, screening, and treatment programs.

The declaration, approved by representatives of governments, academia, international organizations, and advocacy groups who pledged their dedication to increasing access to human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer vaccines, screenings, treatment, and palliative care in the Arab region, aims to prevent cervical cancer and HPV by instituting a regional hub for cervical cancer elimination advocating in the Eastern Mediterranean and Arab Region (EMRO).

The signatories also agreed to advocate for the creation and application of regional and national cervical cancer strategies, to continue monitoring efforts by establishing the Management system for cervical cancer across six countries in the EMRO Region under Sharjah Declaration 2.0 recommendations, and to establish cooperative capacity building efforts to expand countries' and organizations' cervical cancer control activities.

The Sharjah Declaration 3.0 develops on the progress that has been made since the first edition in 2019 and is part of the global devotion to enforcing the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health 2016-2030, as well as the ICPD@25 Nairobi commitments. The Eastern Mediterranean and Arab region may be the first in the world to eliminate cervical cancer by empowering women through self-awareness, education, and esteem to initiate screening, investing in cervical cancer complete removal, and acting on this pronouncement in solidarity and synchronization between governments, national and international organizations, and all other stakeholders.

31 presenters and 2,820 participants attended the third CCF. The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the World Health Organization have attended the UNFPA CCF. The two-day online forum was organized and funded by Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP).

HE Abdul Rahman Al Owais, UAE Minister of Health and Prevention, addressed the audience, saying: "The UAE's dedication to the highest levels of healthcare, scientific research, and innovative policies has established us as a regional and international leader in the fight against HPV and cervical cancer. We were able to launch the National Cancer Control Plan and implement the HPV vaccine into our national vaccination program thanks to our collaboration with major people and the Friends of Cancer Patients, and we achieved an 82% coverage rate for two doses. We work together to define the future of healthcare and boost the health and quite well of our neighbours."

HE Sawson Jaafar, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), stated: "We at FOCP are proud to cooperate with the UNFPA and hold the third Cervical Cancer Forum in 2023 with the involvement of local, regional, and worldwide organizations. Our shared objective is to eradicate cervical cancer, and we think that by building on our accomplishments thus far, creating an action plan, and remaining dedicated to our objectives, we may get closer to eradicating this crippling disease from the globe."

Ashraf Mallak, Managing Director, MSD GCC, said: “The World Health Organization’s call for the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem is a testament to the significant threat that this cancer poses to women around the world. For over 20 years, MSD has been committed to reducing the spread of cervical cancer and its impact on lives around the world. Our company shares the vision of a world free of HPV-related diseases and cancers and will continue to work together with others to make the goal of eliminating cervical cancer a reality. We are honoured to continue our collaboration with FOCP and the UNFPA in the 3rd CCF. The world truly is at a turning point in the road towards eliminating cervical cancer, and we must work together and act now.”

Plan to overcome barriers, achieve elimination goals

The regional cervical cancer elimination strategy was developed through a thorough and inclusive process, beginning with the regional survey in 2022. Dr. Lamia Mohmoud, Regional Adviser, Noncommunicable Diseases Prevention (NCP) (WHO-EMRO) is responsible for the global strategy.

She continued by stating that just three nations currently had HPV vaccination programs in place, and eight more had intentions to do so. "Stigmatism around HPV and security measures were the largest obstacles to HPV vaccination, while the program's cost was primarily an issue for middle- and low-income nations. Other obstacles cited by certain nations were a lack of political will. The study showed that the majority of nations believed it was feasible to reach 90% HPV vaccine coverage among 15-year-olds. The survey also revealed that establishing HPV screening programs were hampered by a lack of infrastructure.

The Sharjah Forums statements commit to advocacy, cooperation, data usage, and adoption of a monitoring framework, according to Dr. Hala Youssuf, Sexual and Reproductive Health Adviser. UNFPA-ASRO and FOCP reaffirm their unwavering dedication to eradicating cervical cancer in the area. We appreciate the nations' assistance in helping us collect data and information so we may more effectively track the development of our roadmaps and preventative initiatives for cervical cancer. Four years ago (2019), at our inaugural Sharjah Cervical Cancer forum, UNFPA-ASRO and its partner (FoCP) embarked on a mission to eradicate cervical cancer in the area. The UNFPA-ASRO is still very much on onboard with our objective four years later. When we adhere to Sharjah declaration pledges, we may keep the momentum in our efforts to eradicate cervical cancer.