$5.1 Million Grant To Eliminate Cervical Cancer In Pacific Region

Pacific-led initiatives set to
eliminate cervical cancer across the
Pacific

Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa – Centre for
Pacific and Global Health at Waipapa Taumata Rau, University
of Auckland, and its Pacific partners, are supporting the
rollout of safe initiatives across the Pacific that are
proven to prevent cervical cancer and save
lives.

Cervical cancer is a largely preventable
disease but remains a leading cause of cancer death among
Pacific women. In parts of the Pacific, incidence rates are
up to nine times higher than in Australasia.

The
Matariki Fund, administered by Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern,
is supporting the programme by expanding access to new and
existing locally led cancer prevention initiatives for more
people across the Pacific.

This new partnership
enables a new Pacific-led and coordinated programme of work
that:

• Increases HPV vaccination coverage to reach
  at least 90% of girls.
• Expands access to cervical
  self-testing to achieve at least 70% of eligible
  women
• Facilitates timely diagnostics to enable
  treatment for pre-cancerous lesions and invasive
  cancer
• Establishes a coalition of Pacific women
  leaders to lead workforce and capability development,
  including digital and health system
  infrastructure.

The programme made possible
through a NZ$5.1 million granted by the Matariki Fund, and
active work of other partners in the region, will begin with
a focus on the Cook Islands and Niue before being scaled up
across the region.

Cervical cancer can be prevented
through HPV vaccination, regular screening and timely
diagnosis and treatment. Yet access to these services
remains uneven across the Pacific. This new investment
provides a critical opportunity to align national
programmes, regional partners, and women leaders around a
common goal towards elimination.

The initiative will
work alongside successful existing regional programmes,
including the EPICC programme (funded by the Australian
Government and the Minderoo Foundation) and the Polynesian
Health Corridors (PHC) (managed by the New Zealand Ministry
of Health and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and
Trade).

Together, these partnerships will help scale
effective interventions, reduce duplication, and strengthen
regional health systems.

Aligning with the WHO Global
Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer the initiative aims to
support countries to achieve the “90–70–90” targets
by 2030 — a threshold at which elimination becomes
possible. In practice, this means aiming to achieving 90% of
girls aged 15 years receiving the HPV vaccine, 70% of women
screened by age 35 years, and again at 45 years; and 90% of
women with pre-cancer and invasive cancers
treated.

Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga, Co-Director
of Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, says the funding is a gamechanger
for regional collaboration.

“Cervical cancer is
preventable, yet too many Pacific women continue to die from
it. This investment allows Pacific countries to work
together — sharing expertise, strengthening systems, and
supporting women leaders — to achieve
elimination.”

Pacific women will be at the forefront
of the initiative, working in partnership with Te Marae Ora
(Cook Islands), the Niue Department of Health, and regional
organisations.

Professor Judith McCool, Head of the
School of Population Health and Co-Director of Te Poutoko
Ora a Kiwa, says the funding enables sustainable,
system-level change.

“This
grant allows us to move beyond isolated interventions to a
truly collaborative, Pacific-led approach. By strengthening
leadership, governance, and regional partnerships, we are
building the foundations for long-term health
equity.”

Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern
says:
“Pacific women are disproportionately affected by
a disease that can be eliminated. There is such excellent
leadership within the region – this funding is simply about
supporting them to save lives with solutions that should be
available to everyone.”

Total investment:
NZ$5,097,210
Duration: 2026–2031
Lead organisation:
Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health
– University of
Auckland

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