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Director-General of WHO urges governments to invest in making HPV vaccines accessible and affordable

ft.com

Oct 14, 2024, 12:41

Director-General of WHO urges governments to invest in making HPV vaccines accessible and affordable

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared a post on LinkedIn:

“As a proud father of a teenage daughter, Blen, I’m deeply grateful for the strides science has made to protect her and millions of other girls from a really deadly disease — Cervical Cancer. Thanks to safe and effective HPV vaccines, this is a worry that can be eliminated from parents’ minds.

However, not every girl is as fortunate. Despite the various safe vaccine options, many still don’t have access due to affordability and availability issues.

HPV vaccine rollouts have faced setbacks, from global supply shortages since 2018 to production challenges earlier this year, leaving millions of girls — especially in Africa and Asia — without this critical protection.

At the World Health Organization, we are working day and night with partners to change this. Recently, WHO approved the use of a fourth HPV vaccine for use with a single dose, bringing us one step closer to eliminating cervical cancer and bridging the gap in vaccine access.

On this Day Of The Girl, I urge all governments to invest in making HPV vaccines accessible and affordable. Vaccinating at least 90% of girls in your country can eliminate cervical cancer from our children’s futures.

To vaccine manufacturers, I call on you to prioritise people over profits. Let’s ensure every girl, everywhere, has the chance to receive this vital protection.

And to fellow parents — HPV vaccines are safe. They are a gift of protection, allowing our daughters to live healthy lives, chase their dreams, and be truly free.”

Director-General of WHO urges governments to invest in making HPV vaccines accessible and affordable

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Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus is the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), a position he has held since 2017. In this role, he has led global health initiatives and responses to public health emergencies, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Previously, Dr. Tedros served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, where he significantly improved healthcare infrastructure and expanded access to health services. He also served as Ethiopia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, strengthening international diplomatic relations and advocating for health as a key component of global development.