Bar Levy, Founder and CEO of HaBait Shel Bar – Israel’s Women’s Cancer Association, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Still inspired from an unforgettable session we hosted today at the International Papillomavirus Conference (IPVC) in Bangkok.
Titled ‘The Road to HPV Elimination through Positive Policy Change’, this session brought together global leaders, powerful stories, and diverse national experiences to answer one central question:
What public policy actions and changes will it really take to end HPV — for everyone, everywhere?
I had the honor of chairing this session, showcasing how evidence based advocacy, lived experience, public trust, scientific evidence, and political will must come together.
Highlights included:
- Prof. Karen Canfell AC FAHMS’s inspiring insights on Australia’s leadership in elimination efforts — a reminder that we can do it.
What united us wasn’t just science.
It was hope, strategy, and the shared belief that HPV ends with us, and by taking care of everyone – especially those unprivileged. We need to move beyond awareness and start demanding accountability, equity, and access. No one should die of a preventable disease — not when we have the tools. - Dr. Sayaka Ikeda on how Japan overcame vaccine hesitancy to rebuild trust after the government excluded the HPV vaccine from the national program and then included it back. We had a very good question from an American attendee reflecting on the fear that the same will happen in the US, and how we can even be ready for it.
- Dr. Linda Eckert reminded us of the power of storytelling in influencing policy, and that there is a place for the lived experiences. sometimes, it is not just the science, but how we combine it with the lived experience.
- My own talk: I shared Israel’s journey from fragmented efforts to a national commitment on HPV elimination.The multi-stakeholders it needed and how HaBait Shel Bar – Israel’s Women’s Cancer Association (RA) supported the policy changes efforts.
I want to thank prof. Joel Palefski for accepting my proposal for this session to the awareness and advocacy track, and the International Papillomavirus Conference – IPVS for the great congress!
The road to elimination is long, but together, we’re paving it with action.”
More posts featuring Bar Levy.