Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has announced Ireland is “on target” to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040. 

Speaking on Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, Mr Donnelly said babies born today “will reach adulthood in an Ireland where we expect to have eliminated cervical cancer”. 

He said HPV vaccinations are a “game-changer” to eliminating cervical cancer. 

“I’m proud that Ireland was one of the first countries to introduce HPV vaccination through the National Immunisation Programme in 2010, as well as being among the first to adopt HPV cervical screening in 2020,” he said. 

For cervical cancer to be “eliminated” according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), it ha to be diagnosed in less than four annual cases per 100,000 people. 

Currently, 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, with 90 becoming fatal. 

Mr Donnelly said Ireland is in a “strong position to exceed the WHO global targets by announcing 2040 as the date on which we expect to achieve elimination in Ireland”. 

Eliminating cervical cancer

The Government plan to increase HPV vaccination rates for girls by age 15 from 80% to the WHO target of 90% by 2030. 

It also seeks to maintain the screening coverage to at or above 73%. 

A roadmap has been published detailing the Government’s strategy to reach the elimination target by 2040. 

HSE Chief Clinical Officer Dr Colm Henry said Ireland has seen a “marked decline in the number of people with cervical cancer since the introduction of our cervical screening programme in 2008”. 

“High uptake of our cervical screening and HPV vaccination programmes are essential in making cervical cancer a rare disease,” he said. 

November 14th marked one year since the death of Vicky Phelan, who became a campaigner for improved Irish healthcare after receiving a false-negative cervical check. 

A portrait of her has been commissioned to be displayed at the University of Limerick, where she studied European Studies.