HSE marks the first official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day

Today, (17 November 2025), the HSE is marking the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day and joining the World Health Organization (WHO) in asking everyone to take one action to help eliminate cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is preventable, and treatable, and can be eliminated. Today also marks one year since Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan was published, and today’s new report outlines the HSE’s achievements over the last year that will bring Ireland closer to the 2040 target to eliminate cervical cancer.

A new communications toolkit has also been published to support communities and organisations to help eliminate cervical cancer. And across Ireland, OPW Buildings from the Rock of Cashel to Dublin’s Custom House will join iconic landmarks around the world and glow teal tonight for #CervicalCancer elimination.

Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD said: “I’m proud that Ireland was among the first countries globally to commit to eliminating cervical cancer. Today marks an important opportunity to reflect on our progress to date, and to reaffirm our commitment to achieving our elimination goals through vaccination, screening and treatment.

“The Cervical Cancer Partnership's work highlights our collaborative, partnership-driven approach to improving health outcomes for women across all communities. Under the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 I’ve allocated €530,000 to support innovative initiatives aimed at increasing screening and vaccination uptake, bringing us closer to a truly equitable healthcare service and a future free from cervical cancer.”

Dr Colm Henry, HSE Chief Clinical Officer said: “Ireland will eliminate cervical cancer community by community, through the combined efforts of people coming together to take actions that will mean that we can look forward to a future where cervical cancer is rare. In the first year since our action plan was published, we have seen the impact of the collective efforts of everyone involved in the cervical cancer elimination partnership. We have seen the power of the work of our community champions, bringing awareness to the needs of their communities to access HPV vaccination and screening.

“On World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, we can all pledge to take one action to help eliminate cervical cancer. We can all play our part by having a conversation with our family and friends, posting a message or video on social media, or putting up a poster in our community or workplace. Together, we can encourage everyone to choose the HPV vaccine, choose cervical screening and to be aware of the symptoms of cervical cancer and seek treatment when needed.”

Dr Caroline Mason-Mohan, Director of Public Health, HSE National Screening Service and Cervical Cancer Elimination partnership lead said: “The publication of our first year’s progress report is a real milestone for the cervical cancer elimination partnership. Ireland’s current cervical cancer incidence rate is 11 per 100,000 women, based on the 2021–2023 average. Despite temporary fluctuations during the COVID-19 pandemic years, the long-term trend in cervical cancer incidence since the introduction of our cervical screening programme in 2009, continues to decline. We are performing strongly against the WHO’s targets and remain on track to achieve elimination by 2040.”

We’re urging people that every post, poster and conversation helps, and that your one act can make a difference, as we go #TogetherTowardsElimination.

Dr Caroline Mason-Mohan added: “Our vision is to make cervical cancer rare in every community and key to achieving this goal is the work of our partners working in the community. We have trained over 90 community champions on HPV vaccination and screening awareness. Accredited training has been expanded across prisons, homeless services, and Sexual Assault Treatment Units (SATUs). The CervicalCheck Screening Training Unit has continued its comprehensive programme of training to sample-takers and expanded their offer to provide bespoke training to sample takers who are now providing screening to key underserved groups. Through these collective efforts we will ensure that no community is left behind as we work to eliminate cervical cancer in Ireland.”

Achievements outlined in the report include:

HPV vaccination:

• The school vaccination programme continues to offer the HPV vaccine to all girls and boys in 1st year in secondary school
• Research has identified that HPV vaccine uptake is lower in DEIS schools and further work is ongoing to understand and address any barriers to vaccination
• Legislative changes have been made to allow school immunisation teams to access school class lists to offer those who are unvaccinated additional opportunities to get the HPV vaccine
• Planning is under way for a school-based catch-up programme which will offer an additional opportunity for those who are unvaccinated to get the HPV vaccine.
• A community pilot in Cork and Kerry collaborated with Roma, Traveller, and migrant communities to co-design culturally appropriate communication materials to support vaccine decision making

HPV Screening:

• Preparations for HPV self-sampling feasibility studies are under way to expand access for under-screened women
• Trauma-informed screening clinics have been introduced in Limerick Prison and other specialised settings
• A new national CervicalCheck screening register (Cara) is being developed to enhance data integration and quality

Cervical pre-cancer and cancer:

• Collaboration between CervicalCheck and NCCP has recommended standardised guidance for detection and management for early-stage cervical cancers which, once implemented, will strengthen national referral pathways and alignment with international best practice
• Collaboration between CervicalCheck, the National Women and Infant Health Programme and Irish College of General Practice has developed a primary care clinical guidance to support the management and screening of women presenting to GPs with symptoms