March 09, 2026

#hauora: $5.1 Million Grant Aims To Eliminate Cervical Cancer Across Pacific

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 9, 2026

A major new investment aimed at eliminating cervical cancer in the Pacific has been announced, with a $5.1 million grant supporting efforts to expand prevention, screening and treatment across the region.

The funding will support a multi-country programme designed to dramatically reduce cervical cancer rates among Pacific women, where the disease remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths.

The initiative focuses on improving access to HPV vaccination, cervical screening and early treatment, widely recognised as the three key pillars required to eliminate the disease. Health leaders say cervical cancer is now largely preventable, yet many Pacific communities continue to face barriers to these life-saving services.

The programme aims to increase HPV vaccination rates so that at least 90 percent of girls are protected against the virus that causes most cervical cancers, while also expanding cervical self-testing and screening programmes to reach at least 70 percent of eligible women. The plan also includes strengthening health systems to ensure 90 percent of women with pre-cancer or cervical cancer receive timely treatment.

Cervical cancer is caused almost entirely by the human papillomavirus, or HPV, and is one of the few cancers that can be prevented through vaccination and early detection. Global health experts say that with widespread vaccination, regular screening and accessible treatment, the disease could eventually be eliminated as a public health threat.

Pacific nations have some of the highest cervical cancer rates in the world, reflecting long-standing gaps in access to healthcare, screening services and vaccination programmes. The new funding is intended to help close those gaps by strengthening prevention programmes and community-based health outreach across the region.

The initiative aligns with the World Health Organization’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer, which sets international targets for vaccination, screening and treatment to dramatically reduce deaths from the disease within the coming decades.

Health organisations involved in the programme say the investment represents an important step toward protecting the health of Pacific women and ensuring more equitable access to life-saving cancer prevention services across the region.