Can Bhutan become an ambassador for the elimination of cervical cancer?

 ...can Bhutan become an ambassador for the elimination of cervical cancer?

Towards elimination of cervical cancer (Google)

With a rise in the number of cervical cancer cases in the region, World Health Organization (WHO) calls for action against it. 

As per WHO, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women reported globally. About 604, 000 new cases were detected and 342,000 deaths in 2020, actions to eliminate cervical cancer are a public health concern.

According to the Regional Director of WHO South-East Asia, Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh, countries of the region continue to make steady and sustained progress against cervical cancer, in line with the Region's Flagship Priority. "Five member states_ Bhutan, Maldives, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Thailand have introduced nation-wide Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination."

In Bhutan, cervical cancer is the most common cancer in women, with an estimated 20.5 cases per 100,000 women.

The Ministry of Health, Bhutan has launched the strategic plan for cervical cancer 2019-2023 towards the elimination of cervical cancer in Bhutan. This strategy should be a guideline to achieve the target by 2023. 

Several measures have been taken by the Royal Government of Bhutan: HPV vaccination for boys and girls reaching over 90 per cent a year, Pap smear cervical cancer screening every three years, and cervical cancer treatment. These measures can make Bhutan an ambassador for cervical cancer elimination. 

As per the Health Minister, Dechen Wangmo, Bhutan will be among the first country in the region to present the cervical cancer elimination strategy.

Despite several challenges that Bhutan would face: vaccine and screening test supply and delivery challenges, human resource capacity and infrastructure challenges, Bhutan has committed to eliminating cervical cancer at the 144th session of the World Health Organization in 2019. 

Eliminating cervical cancer will promote various Sustainable Development Goals, including SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 5 (gender equality), and SDG 10 (reducing inequalities).