30 lakh women must undergo HPV screening to prevent cervical cancer: Health experts

Highlights _ cervical cancer

• 6 lakh women have been screened; 24 lakh more remain
• In five years, 4.27% tested HPV positive, with rates from 2.56% to 7.1%
• The screening programme must expand to include rural women
• All women aged 30-60 should be screened
• The programme runs 200 screening centres, operates in 600 hospitals/clinics
• Electronic data tracking now covers 492 upazilas in all 64 districts
• Women are registered via NID for unique IDs, follow-up

A total of 30 lakh women in Bangladesh need to be screened for the Human Papillomavirus (HPV)—the virus that causes cervical cancer—to help prevent the disease and achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, health experts said today.

This ambitious target was stressed at the result dissemination event of the Electronic Data Tracking with Population-Based Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Programme, held at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Centre of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU).

Currently, 6 lakh women have completed HPV screenings, leaving a significant 24 lakh women yet to be screened to meet the goal. This effort aligns with Target 3.4 of the SDGs, which aims to significantly reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases by 2030.

Over the past five years, an average of 4.27% of women screened were found to be infected with HPV. While the overall prevalence of high-risk HPV remains relatively low, studies presented at the event showed significant regional variations, with infection rates ranging from 2.56% to 7.1% in different parts of Bangladesh.

Dr Ashrafunnesa, project director and professor of Gynaecological Oncology at BMU, presented key findings, saying, "From 2021 to 2025, 38,183 women underwent HPV screening. Of these, 1,431 tested positive, while 36,752 tested negative." 

She highlighted a positive trend of increasing annual screening but warned that the programme remains largely urban-centric. "It is essential to bring rural women under the screening program on a large scale," she stressed, adding that "to achieve the SDG, an additional 24 lakh women need to be screened."

The event was presided over by Prof Dr Md Shahinul Alam, vice-chancellor of BMU, with Dr Md Sarwar Bari, secretary of the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division, as chief guest. 

Dr Bari urged a well-planned approach to bring all women aged 30 to 60 under screening. "While it will take time, achieving this goal is achievable through collective efforts," he said.

Since its inception in 2012, the screening programme has established 200 screening centres nationwide. Cervical cancer screening is now conducted in about 600 hospitals and clinics, with early treatment available at 52 clinics. 

The programme has expanded electronic data tracking to 492 upazilas across all 64 districts. Additionally, two specialised units with 90 beds for cervical and breast cancer are under development at BMU, and work is ongoing to establish 32 breast clinics.

Women aged 30 to 60 are registered using their national ID cards, which generate a unique electronic identification number for follow-up and treatment.

Key recommendations from the event include initiating high-risk HPV screening in coastal and high-prevalence regions such as Sylhet, Barisal, and Chattogram; ensuring equal expansion of screening in rural and urban areas; prioritising women aged 35-44; developing an e-health platform linked to national ID cards; ensuring triage and follow-up through a combined VIA and HPV approach; and integrating laboratory and histopathology reporting into the electronic Health Information System (e-HIS).