International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS) earned the 2023 Incredible Impact Programme (IIP) seed grant of $5,000 USD to advance its ambition of eliminating papillomavirus-related disease in Scotland and around the world. Now, one year later, the IPVC 2024 Local Organizing Committee (see below) has shared an update on the grant’s contribution toward furthering their legacy program.
Why should people know or care about HPV?
(ALL): Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that can lead to several types of cancer in men and women. Every year, half a million people around the world die from HPV-related cancers, with cervical cancer taking the most lives. This is tragic and frustrating, since many HPV-related cancers are preventable.
The HPV vaccine is safe and effective in preventing most HPV-associated cancers, and cervical screening can detect abnormalities that, with timely treatment, can prevent the development of cancer. As the global authority on HPV, IPVS wants to share these messages far and wide, so people can take action to protect their health.
How is IPVS using the $5,000 USD Seed Fund Grant awarded by the Incredible Impacts Programme?
(ALL): Raising awareness and understanding of HPV in Scotland is a key goal of the 36th International Papillomavirus Conference (IPVC 2024), which will be hosted in Edinburgh, November 12-15, 2024.
The IPVC 2024 Local Organizing Committee (LOC), with representatives in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen, is implementing ambitious plans to raise HPV awareness across Scotland, particularly among young people who have not yet been vaccinated. We are spending the legacy grant on awareness events and reusable materials, such as banners, videos and resource links, which we hope will have continued benefit in the coming years.
Our awareness activities planned for this fall and through to spring of 2025 are:
- Interactive sessions with secondary school students in communities with low HPV vaccination uptake. Our ambition is to reach at least 10 schools across the country, impacting at least 1,000 students.
- Pop-up HPV awareness events at eight university and college campuses across Scotland, hopefully reaching thousands of students. We are hosting events at Napier University in Edinburgh and the University of Aberdeen to encourage HPV vaccination, which includes messaging to international students who might not have access to the HPV vaccine in their home countries. The LOC is also arranging HPV awareness videos to be shown at the University of Glasgow.
- IPVS and Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC) are planning to light up at least six landmark buildings and monuments across Scotland on November 12 – the first day of the conference – to pique public curiosity and further raise awareness.
What impact do you anticipate from applying the Seed Fund Grant?
Dr Sharon Hanley: Our public awareness activities commenced on June 20, when EICC hosted a free live event, “Breaking the Silence on HPV”. IPVS took the opportunity to introduce the International HPV Awareness Campaign, which we are implementing alongside our network of 140+ partner organizations around the world.
August is festival month in Edinburgh. With the help of the EICC, IPVS placed a pop-up banner at the entrance to the conference centre, which was seen by approximately 55,000 festivalgoers.
We anticipate improvement in HPV awareness and vaccination uptake among students in secondary schools, colleges and universities, and will monitor feedback and engagement over time. We also hope to elevate general awareness of HPV through influencer and media messaging before, during and after IPVS 2024.
“Seed fund” is an appropriate term – rather like tending a garden, raising public awareness is an ongoing activity and there is always something to do to keep it growing.
At IPVC 2023 in Washington D.C., IPVS outlined plans to enhance vaccination and screening uptake in Scotland. How is IPVS progressing on these goals?
Prof. Sheila Graham: Currently, 69% of Scottish women are up to date with cervical screening, but this is not the case for the most deprived women, where coverage is 10% lower. HPV vaccination coverage by the age of 15 years is 88% in Scotland, which is close to the WHO elimination target of 90%. However, there is a 12% difference in those most vulnerable communities. Only the least deprived groups reach over 90% vaccination coverage. So, there is still much work to be done.
We cannot eliminate cervical cancer until all women are adequately screened and vaccinated. Efforts to raise awareness of the importance of screening and vaccination, including among vulnerable groups, is essential. IPVS uses the campaign theme “One Less Worry” to direct public attention toward this issue. Our conference in November will encourage HPV scientists and advocates to join forces and inspire each other as we translate advancement in science into meaningful progress.
Here in Scotland, we are in discussions with Public Health Scotland about possible forms of collaboration to share messaging around the HPV vaccine. We look forward to developing these initiatives in the hope of a long-lasting collaboration.
The Incredible Impacts Programme brings attention to associations that are making a positive, meaningful impact. What legacy does IPVS strive to achieve?
Dr Kate Cuschieri: The IPVS legacy is building a world free from HPV-related disease. We pursue this goal by advancing the science on HPV and raising awareness about HPV as a serious yet manageable health issue.
Knowledge triggers action. Education helps people make informed choices about their health and reduce their chances of being affected by the virus. By speaking openly about HPV, we normalize the topic and break down stigma.
When the global HPV expert community comes together in Edinburgh for IPVC 2024 in November, the advancement and dissemination of basic, clinical, and public health science will inform HPV awareness and advocacy campaigns designed to accelerate progress toward our shared goals.
IPVS also hopes to motivate young people to “get involved” in eliminating HPV. The first step is to get informed, vaccinated, and screened. Then, they must be motivated to maintain progress in eliminating HPV and related cancers.
All: IPVS wishes to once again thank the Incredible Impact Programme for the seed funding that is supporting our legacy activities. For more information about the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS), visit ipvsoc.org. and AskAboutHPV.org.
