Ireland is on target to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
Ireland publicly committed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global initiative to eliminate cervical cancer in January 2023 - one of the first countries in the world to do so.
On 17 November 2025, the world will mark the first official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. It’s a strong reminder that cervical cancer is preventable and treatable - and can be eliminated.
World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day - who.int
Our vision for 2040
An Ireland where cervical cancer is rare in every community.
National Action Plan 2025-2030
A national action plan was published in 2025 to ensure Ireland remains on track to eliminate cervical cancer and realise its vision to make cervical cancer rare in every community by 2040. The action plan was developed following an extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation process.
- Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2025-2030 (PDF, 1.7 KB, 38 pages)
- Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2025-2030 - Irish version (PDF, 1.7 KB, 38 pages)
- 2025 Progress Report: Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2025-2030 (PDF, 1.3 KB, 37 pages)
A toolkit for action
We’ve developed a toolkit to support communities and organisations to take action and help eliminate cervical cancer in Ireland. It includes ready-to-use factsheets, social media graphics, sample posts and printable posters.
Use the toolkit all year round and on key dates such as 17 November for World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
Use the toolkit to:
- start conversations using our factsheets and videos
- share our sample social media posts on your channels and websites
- show your support by displaying posters
- learn and share more about HPV vaccination and cervical screening.
Every post, poster and conversation helps.
What elimination means
The WHO defines elimination of cervical cancer as fewer than 4 cases per 100,000 women. This would make cervical cancer rare. Ireland’s incidence rate is currently 10.1 per 100,000. Elimination of cervical cancer does not mean zero cases of cervical cancer, but it will bring us to a point where there are so few cases that it is no longer a public health problem. Ireland can achieve this by 2040, due to the success of the HPV vaccination and cervical screening programmes.
The WHO targets
Known as the 90-70-90 targets, the WHO is asking every country to put measures in place to reach these by 2030, to put the world on course to eliminate cervical cancer:
- 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV by age 15
- 70% of women screened by age 35 and again by age 45
- 90% of people identified with cervical disease treated
How we can get there
Our goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 can be achieved by making sure everyone eligible (young girls, women and people with a cervix) has access to three important tools:
- vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes most cervical cancers
- cervical screening to find HPV infections and signs of changes in the cervix
- treatment of precancer abnormalities that are found before cancer can develop; and timely treatment for cervical cancer and access to appropriate care and support services, including palliative care.
Together Towards Elimination
Everyone can play a part in the drive towards elimination and thousands of people already have.
- Parents and children of vaccination age can learn about the benefits of the HPV vaccine and its role in preventing cervical cancer at hpv.ie
- Women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 65 are eligible for free HPV cervical screening with CervicalCheck. Choose screening from the age of 25. Check the register and book your screening test when it is due
- When cervical cancer is found early, it can be treated and cured. When advised, everyone should take up treatment
Follow the hashtag #TogetherTowardsElimination on social media channels to keep up to date.
Cervical Cancer Elimination Partnership
The HSE’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy Group is comprised of the Department of Health, HSE’s National Screening Service, National Immunisation Office, National Cancer Control Programme and National Social Inclusion Office, National Women and Infants Health Programme, National Cancer Registry Ireland, patient advocates, Marie Keating Foundation, Irish Cancer Society and thisisGO.
Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination initiative is supported by the Women’s Health Fund. This is a process of investment under the Women’s Health Action Plan 2024-2025 which commits to taking action to improve the health outcomes for women and girls across the country. It strives to achieve new approaches to women’s health through innovation. Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy is fully aligned to this ambition.
Learn more
Our blogs tell the story of Ireland’s progress towards cervical cancer elimination since we launched our first roadmap in January 2023.
- Working together Ireland can be a world leader in the elimination of cervical cancer (January 2023)
- Together towards elimination: Ireland on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040 (November 2023)
- Inclusive stakeholder engagement shapes national action plan to achieve cervical cancer elimination in Ireland (November 2024)
- Empowering communities to lead Ireland towards cervical cancer elimination (November 2024)
- Towards a future where cervical cancer is rare: Ireland’s ambitious vision for 2040 (November 2024)
- Marking Ireland’s progress on the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day (November 2025)
Research