International HPV Awareness Day Campaign 2022

The International HPV Awareness Day is observed on 4 Mach annually and aims to promote awareness around HPV infection, how it spreads, and how HPV infection and the diseases that it causes can be prevented. On this day, we intent to raise awareness about the availability of prevention tools, promote education about HPV, and encourage governments and individuals across the world to take action against HPV to save hundreds of thousands of women and men that can benefit from the HPV vaccine and/or screening for the early detection of cancer and treatment.

Sadly, there are over 200 difference types of HPV (human papillomavirus), a virus that is associated with 630,000 cancer diagnoses around the world. These cancers lead to 470,000 deaths worldwide, over 300,000 of which are deaths of women due to cervical cancer. Almost all cases of cervical and anal cancers, and one third of head and neck cancers, are caused by HPV. Tools currently available for the prevention of HPV related cancers are vaccination, cervical screening, and the treatment of cervical pre-cancers in women.

The theme for this year’s International HPV Awareness Day is “One Less Worry” and it aims to address the stigma that can act as a barrier and increase the risks to us all by communicating clearly that - we CAN eliminate HPV and create one less worry for our world. Let us educate ourselves and friends about HVP and its consequences, in order to save a life because an early detection is essential in preventing HVP related cancers.

The World Assembly of Youth (WAY) is joining forces once again to commemorate this Day and to spark conversation and promote a worldwide exchange of ideas, knowledge, and research materials about human papilloma viruses (HPV) and their associated diseases. We believe in raising awareness on this health challenges faced by young people around the world. We also intent to promote education and encourage youth across the world to establish a basis for communities, schools, and universities, on what could be done to improve spreading the news and to take action. The HPV related cancers can be prevented and this knowledge needs to be shared to everyone.

Everybody needs to be informed and, if adequate, to enrol in a preventive activity that reduces the risk to develop a cancer associated with HPV. In the next upcoming months, WAY will organise a series of educational virtual events and trainings with young people and youth leaders from around the world. Stay tune and visit our website and social media platforms for more updates.

Meanwhile, do continue to spread the word #askaboutHPV #onelessworry #preventHPVnow