Global Meeting:
Cervical Cancer Prevention and Control in Displaced Populations
Istanbul, Türkiye – 2025
Meeting Objectives
- Provide an overview of the displaced population globally.
- Review the immunization programs and cancer control landscape in these populations, including access to services.
- Provide a summary of available epidemiology, the burden of disease, and surveillance related to HPV and HPV-related diseases.
- Examine case studies from LMICs and HICs to understand and identify best practices for HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening.
- Understand and discuss the policies and their implementation at the country level for access to HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in displaced populations.
- Determine and discuss the provision of cervical cancer primary prevention and control services for hard-to-reach populations and people in conflict-affected areas.
- Discuss the role of national and international partners/stakeholders in improving access, provision of services and the continuum of care among these populations.
- Discuss barriers to the uptake of HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening in these displaced populations.
- Discuss and define the way forward for the inclusion of these populations to achieve cervical cancer elimination goals.
DAY 1 – Thursday, February 13, 2025
SESSION 1: WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
SESSION 2: MIGRATION IN NUMBERS – IS THERE DATA ON DISPLACED POPULATION?
Chairs: Dr Marc Steben (HPV Global Action) & Prof Murat Gültekin (Hacettepe University)
- Overview on migrant and displaced population landscape at the global level
Dr Manuel Carballo, International Centre for Migration Health and Development (ICMHD) – Online (Video, Pdf) - Current global and health policy landscape for migrants and displaced population (refugees, asylum-seekers, and other underserved populations)
Dr Nesrine Bascales, UNHCR (Video, Pdf) - Cancer RADAR: Assess the current risk and preventable burden of (cervical) cancer among individuals with a migration background
Dr Catharina Alberts, Cancer RADAR Project (Video, Pdf) - Q&A (Video)
SESSION 3: OVERVIEW OF HPV PREVENTION AND CONTROL SERVICES/PROGRAMS FOR MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES
Chairs: Dr Valeska Padovese (Genitourinary clinic, Mater Dei Hospital) & Dr Kate Cuschieri (Scottish HPV Reference Laboratory (NHS)
- Barriers and facilitators for accessing HPV vaccination in migrant and refugee populations; Global perspective
Dr Palmira Immordino, University of Palermo – Online (Video, Pdf) - Integration of refugees and migrants in immunization policies, planning and service delivery and strategies to move forward – Global perspective
Dr Sally Hargreaves, St George’s University of London – Online (Video, Pdf) - Overview of cervical cancer screening practices for refugees and other hard-to- reach populations in LMICs
Karel Blondeel, University of Ghent (Video, Pdf) - Q&A (Video)
SESSION 4: UNDERSTANDING HPV VACCINATION LANDSCAPE AMONG HARD-TO-REACH GIRLS (REFUGEES, CONFLICT AREAS,…)
Chairs: Dr Shabnam Mostari (Aspire to Innovate (a2i), ICT Division & UNDP) & Dr Chris Morgan (Jhpiego)
- Experience Snapshots: (12 min per presentation)
– HPV vaccination in conflict-areas and hard-to-reach populations
Dr Sheetal Sharma, International Rescue Committee
(Video, Pdf)
– HPV vaccination access and implementation challenges and strategies to improve access for hard-to-reach girls in Kenya
Ms Benda Kithaka, Kilele Health Association, Kenya – Online
– HPV vaccination access and delivery for hard-to-reach girls in Bangladesh – Lessons learned from delivery in Cox Bazar
Dr Muhibul Kashem, PATH Bangladesh (Video, Pdf)
– HPV vaccination amidst political conflict and in-country displacement
Dr Ruhul Amin, UNICEF, Myanmar – Online - Q&A (Video)
- Panel Discussion on understanding the access and implementation of HPV Vaccination at the country level for hard-to-reach girls
Panelists:
Dr Carlos Castro (Colombian League against Cancer), Ms Benda Kithaka (Kilele Health Association, Kenya) – online, Dr Jean Marie Edengue Ekani (UNICEF Cameroon), Dr Sheetal Sharma (IRC), Mr Hirpo Keterma (PATH, Ethiopia)
(Video)
SESSION 5: CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT AMONG DISPLACED POPULATION (MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES)
Chairs: Dr Silvia de Sanjose (IS Global) & Karel Blondeel (University of Ghent)
- Cancer care with a focus on HPV related cancers for female refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey
Dr Nadia Muhaidat, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan (Video, Pdf) - Cervical cancer prevention and care in underserved communities – Burkina Faso
Dr Samira Ouedraogo, O.R. Tambo Chair Research and Action Against Cancer, University Joseph KI-ZERBO, Burkina Faso – Online (Video, Pdf) - Q&A (Video)
- Panel Discussion on Current status of screening in displaced populations and hard-to-reach communities: Identifying barriers, addressing gaps, and exploring solutions
Panelists:
Najat Lahmidi (Medecins du Monde) – Online, Prof Mario Poljak (University of Ljubljana), Dr Sharon Hanley (University of Aberdeen), Dr Valeska Padovese (Genitourinary clinic, Mater Dei Hospital), Dr Samira Ouedraogo (University Joseph KI-ZERBO) – Online
(Video)
SESSION 6: ROUND TABLE ON ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS, LOCAL AND GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS FOR HPV PREVENTION AND CONTROL IN DISPLACED POPULATION (INCLUDING CONFLICT SETTINGS)
Chairs: Dr Cathy Ndiaye (PATH) and Ms Nayab Waheed (University of Antwerp)
- Key questions for roundtable:
– How can we integrate HPV prevention and control into discussions for displaced populations in LMICs and HICs?
– What are the key barriers to initiating these discussions?
– How can we enhance advocacy efforts to improve access and equity for this population?
Panelists:
Dr Jean Marie Edengue Ekani (UNICEF Cameroon), Ms Pema Lhaki Lama (NFCC), Dr Karim Traore (SOS Médecins-Burkina Faso), Elizabeth Hassan (MOH Nigeria), Dr Ronald Nyakoojo (UNHCR, Uganda), Jean Pasteur/ Dr Najat Lahmidi (Medecins du Monde) – online, Dr Clovis Sangwe (Gavi), Dr Cecilia Makafu (MEWATA, Tanzania), Dr Eman Nakhla (Refugee Egypt), Prof Scott La Montagne (JSI), Pania Karnaki (Prolepsis – RiverEU), Dr Tamar Khomasuridze (UNFPA SRH Regional Advisor) – Online
(Video)
DAY 2 – Friday, February 14, 2025
DAY 2: WELCOME SESSION
Chairs: Prof Alex Vorsters (University of Antwerp)
Summary of day 1: feedback from participants (Video)
SESSION 7: KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES TOWARD HPV VACCINATION AND SCREENING AMONG DISCPLACED POPULATION (MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES)
Chairs: Dr Sharon Hanley (University of Aberdeen) & Dr Marc Steben (HPV Global Action)
- HPV vaccination among vulnerable populations – Challenges and opportunities – Findings from RIVER EU and other related initiatives
Pania Karnaki, Prolepsis Institute (Video, Pdf) - Gaps to HPV vaccine uptake in migrant population – LMICs perspective
Dr Sheetal Sharma, International Rescue Committee (Video, Pdf) - Colombia-Venezuelan Migrant Landscape for HPV prevention
Dr Carlos Castro, Colombian League against Cancer (Video, Pdf) - Q&A (Video)
SESSION 8A: WORKING GROUP ON BUILDING UNDERSTANDING ON GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE AND EVIDENCE ON HPV VACCINATION IN HARD-TO-REACH POPULATION IN LMICs
Facilitators: Dr Edina Amponsah-Dacosta (Vaccines for Africa Initiative) & Dr Clovis Sangwe (Gavi)
- A working group with all participants working in immunization, women health space and access for healthcare in adolescent girls/HPV vaccination program
– Discuss definition of HTR girls
– Expanding on knowledge gaps, including challenges in data collection and quantification of this population
– What lessons learned from other vaccines in conflict areas that could be adopted to ensure effective and sustainable HPV vaccine delivery.
– Understand how service delivery and key stakeholders differ between IDPs and refugees/migrants.
– How integrating HPV vaccination with other adolescent health interventions could help reach girls in these settings. What do we know so far (maybe other health service deliveries)?
– Drafting recommendations for further research and access for improving health outcomes among these populations - Summary (Video)
SESSION 8B: WORKING GROUP ON BUILDING UNDERSTANDING ON GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE AND EVIDENCE ON HPV VACCINATION IN MIGRANTS AND REFUGEES AND RECOMMENDATIONS IN HICs
Facilitators: Dr Valeska Padovese (Genitourinary clinic, Mater Dei Hospital)
- A working group with all participants working in immunization, women health space and access for healthcare in adolescent girls/HPV vaccination program
– Expanding on knowledge gaps, including challenges in data collection and quantification of this population
– Assessing the policy and healthcare access landscape
– How integrating HPV vaccination with other adolescent health interventions could help reach hard-to-reach populations. What do we know so far (may be other health service deliveries)?
– Drafting recommendations for further - Summary (Video)
SESSION 8C: WORKING GROUP ON BUILDING UNDERSTANDING ON GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE ON CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING IN MIGRANTS AND DISPLACED POPULATION; POLICY, ACCESS/IMPLEMENTATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Facilitators: Dr Silvia de Sanjose (IS Global) & Ms Pema Lhaki Lama (NFCC)
- A working group with all participants working in cancer care, screening and women health space
– Understanding the policy landscape, barriers to access and gaps in knowledge for cervical cancer screening in HICs and LMICs
– Strengthening advocacy efforts – Identifying key stakeholders and building synergies to promote cervical cancer screening for displaced women.
– Defining global action items for cervical cancer screening in displaced populations - Summary (Video)
SESSION 9: CONCLUSION
Chairs: Prof Alex Vorsters (University of Antwerp) & Dr Manuel Carballo (ICMHD)