Developed in collaboration with a group of oncology and cervical cancer experts, the HPV Prevention Policy Atlas EMRO includes 21 sub-criteria to benchmark national progress and identify gaps in policy implementation. The HPV Atlas is not an epidemiological tool but a living document—a catalyst for political dialogue, civil society organisations advocacy, and policy change.
The HPV Atlas provides a comparative overview of 22 countries and territories in the Region, scoring their policies in three key areas:
- Primary prevention through HPV vaccination
- Secondary prevention through cervical cancer screening
- Public access to accurate online information on HPV and prevention
Saudi Arabia ranks among the top performers together with other Gulf states, with its excellent vaccination policies on HPV, free and available screening and excellent information provided by the state. Additionally, Saudi Arabia has recently extended eligibility for the HPV vaccine to women up to the age of 26, and in some cases 45, demonstrating strong alignment with WHO targets. On the other hand, countries such as Afghanistan and Somalia currently lack both HPV vaccination policies and reliable screening programs, highlighting the urgent need for international support and national political will.