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Bali, Indonesia – June 21, 2025
On the heels of a historic gathering, the 2nd Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum concluded in Bali with renewed determination and robust commitments from governments, donors, multilateral agencies, and civil society. Hosted by the Indonesian Ministry of Health and supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), the event brought together over 300 participants from June 17–19, 2025, to chart a course toward making cervical cancer the first cancer ever to be eliminated globally.
Building on Past Successes
The Bali forum built upon the momentum generated by the 2023 Cartagena Declaration, which saw nearly $600 million pledged for global elimination efforts. This year’s gathering reaffirmed the WHO’s Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, setting ambitious 2030 targets: 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70% of women screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again at 45, and 90% of women with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment.
Despite progress, global disparities remain stark. While high-income countries report near-universal HPV vaccine coverage, only 46% of low-income countries have introduced the vaccine nationally. This inequity is reflected in the sobering statistic that 94% of the 342,000 annual cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.
Indonesia’s Leadership and National Efforts
Indonesia’s Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin, highlighted the country’s aggressive push to combat cervical cancer. Initiatives include expanding free HPV vaccination for school-age girls, scaling up early detection programs using DNA HPV testing and Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA), and increasing community awareness. “We cannot rely solely on treatment. Prevention is far more important. We must detect cancer at an early stage—when it’s still curable,” Minister Sadikin emphasized.
Equity and Innovation at the Forefront
The forum underscored that eliminating cervical cancer is as much a matter of justice as it is of medicine. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed, “Every girl who remains unvaccinated and every woman who lacks access to screening or treatment is a reminder that equity must be at the heart of our elimination strategy.” Innovations such as self-sampling technologies and simplified vaccine schedules (like the single-dose HPV vaccine) are expanding access, especially for women in remote or underserved areas.
New Commitments and the Bali Declaration
The forum culminated in the Bali Declaration, which called for enhanced national HPV vaccine rollouts, scaled-up screening and early treatment programs, sustained investments in public health infrastructure, and mobilization of civil society and community leadership. Donors were urged to fully fund Gavi’s 2026–2030 replenishment, aiming to vaccinate 120 million girls and save an estimated 1.5 million lives over the next five years.
A Call to Action
WHO Western Pacific Regional Director Dr. Saia Ma’u Piukala emphasized the moral imperative behind the movement: “At its heart, this movement is about justice. It’s about ensuring that every girl and every woman, regardless of where she lives or what she earns, has access to basic, lifesaving care.” Without sustained intervention, annual deaths from cervical cancer could exceed 410,000 globally by 2030. However, with the renewed commitments made in Bali, stakeholders believe that cervical cancer elimination is now within reach.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available from the 2nd Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum and related press releases as of June 2025. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, readers are encouraged to consult official sources for the most up-to-date and detailed information. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization mentioned. The author is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the content provided.
