By Susan Donlon, Communications team, National Screening Service
On 17 November 2025, the world will mark the first official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day. It serves as a strong reminder that cervical cancer is preventable and treatable - and can be eliminated.
Ireland has committed to making cervical cancer rare in every community by 2040.
A toolkit for action – one act for elimination
We’ve created a toolkit to help communities and organisations take action to eliminate cervical cancer.
It includes ready-to-use factsheets, social media graphics and messages, and printable posters to help you share messages in your community.
You can use the toolkit all year round, and on key calendar dates throughout the year, including World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
We’re asking everyone to pledge to do ‘one act for elimination’ on 17 November.
You can use the toolkit to:
- share information - download and post our ready-to-use factsheets and graphics on your social media platforms or website
- show your support - print and display our poster in your workplace, community centre or healthcare setting
- spread the message - use our sample social media posts to encourage others to take part and start conversations about cervical cancer prevention and screening
- find out more - follow the links in the toolkit and watch our videos to get accurate, trusted information about HPV vaccination and cervical screening.
Every post, poster and conversation will help - your one act can make a difference!
Why a World Day matters
World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day is the first official world health day dedicated to eliminating a cancer. It’s a global milestone and an opportunity to take stock and revisit our commitments and collective responsibilities.
Globally, we are not yet on track to meet the 2030 targets. HPV vaccination rates in some regions remain below target. Screening access and treatment availability are still uneven. And women living with HIV continue to face much higher risks of cervical cancer.
Every year, more than 340,000 women die from cervical cancer - deaths that could be prevented through vaccination, screening and early treatment.
Here’s why a World Day matters:
- It puts cervical cancer at the top of the global health agenda, reminding us that elimination is achievable.
- It offers a moment to review progress, share innovation, and highlight what still needs to be done.
- It strengthens our collective commitment and accountability to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 90-70-90 targets for 2030.
- It builds visibility for ongoing national efforts, such as Ireland’s national action plan.
Ireland’s progress towards elimination
Five years ago in 2020, the WHO launched the first-ever global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem.
Since then, Ireland has taken significant steps to make cervical cancer elimination a reality.
- Setting our goal: In 2023 we announced that Ireland is on track to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040.
- Collaboration and action: We published Ireland’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan in 2024, shaped by thousands of people who took part in an extensive stakeholder engagement and consultation process.
- A shared vision: We pledged our commitment to a vision to make cervical cancer rare in every community.
- Community leadership and action: We’re continuing to work with communities to improve equity and make sure that everyone can benefit from HPV vaccination, cervical screening and treatment.
- Reviewing progress: We’re reviewing our progress and will publish a report in November 2025.
These steps reflect our shared determination: that no woman in Ireland should die from this preventable disease.
Ireland’s continued commitment
Eliminating cervical cancer will be achieved by the HSE’s vaccination, screening and treatment services working together, and by the active support and participation of communities across the country.
Our approach combines:
- prevention: through HPV vaccination and screening
- early detection: through CervicalCheck screening
- treatment and follow-up: for women who need it
- equity and inclusion: making sure everyone can access information and care.
Act now, Act together
Elimination is within reach if we act now, together, to make sure every girl is protected through HPV vaccination and every women has access to screening and treatment.
We have the tools, partnerships and public commitment to reach our 2040 goal – a high-level political commitment, partnerships with civil society, collaboration with patient groups, teamwork with the health and scientific communities, and support from media groups.
Everyone has a part to play.
- If you’re eligible for cervical screening, book your test.
- If you’re a parent or guardian, make sure your child gets the HPV vaccine.
- If you work in health, education or the media, use our toolkit and help spread the message that prevention and early treatment can save lives.
- If you support our vision to make cervical cancer rare in every community, do one act for elimination on 17 November – World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day.
Together, we can make cervical cancer the first cancer ever to be eliminated — in Ireland and around the world.
#TogetherTowardsElimination
- Get more information: hse.ie/cervicalcancerelimination
- The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution in May 2025 making 17 November an official world health day.
This year the WHO is calling for the world to unite in action and build on our progress towards the 90-70-90 targets by 2030:
- 90% of girls fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15
- 70% of women screened by age 35 and again by age 45
- 90% of women with cervical disease receiving appropriate treatment
The goal is to bring cervical cancer incidence below 4 cases per 100,000 women per year.