Response to the Huffington Post

On May 17^th the Huffington Post ran a commentary by Irene Natividad, President of the Global Summit of Women, entitled “Lifting the Burden.” The piece talked about the importance of an all-out international effort to stem the incidence of cervical cancer.

Natividad rightfully talked about how cervical cancer strikes women in their 30s and 40s and takes a disproportionate toll among women in the developing world, where 80% of deaths occur. Natividad calls all to recognize that cervical cancer is not only a health issue but an economic issue as well. She reasons that the knowledge and the tools to prevent, screen and treat cervical cancer are well known and identified, and raises the question: what’s stopping us from wiping out cervical cancer?

First off, we agree with Natividad that in the long term, new HPV vaccines show potential to reduce cervical cancer rates worldwide. Current HPV vaccines target viruses that cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Natividad adds:

Even more promising for developing countries, researchers are creating a new HPV test that doesn’t require running water, electricity, or highly trained laboratory professionals. It would allow women to be screened and, if necessary, begin treatment on the same day.

Hmm … Screening and treatment in the same day? Sound familiar?

Natividad misses the opportunity to talk about the kind of work Grounds for Health is doing: the Single Visit Approach.  The Single Visit Approach uses vinegar, cotton balls, and a good light. It costs just 23¢ in materials to screen and treat for cervical cancer using the Single Visit Approach. If pre-cancer is detected, the woman can be treated immediately with cryotherapy (freezing).

It’s simple. It’s powerful. It works.

Don’t get us wrong, HPV vaccination will be instrumental in the fight against cervical cancer in the near future. We just can’t forget low-resource appropriate screening and treatment methods that can have an impact right now.