Based on the laboratory work of Professor zur Hausen and his colleagues and critical Epidemiological studies of Dr. Nubia Muñoz and her colleagues, research over the past decades has shown infection with certain cancer-causing types of human papillomavirus (HPV) to be the necessary, but not sufficient, cause of cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignant neoplasm in terms of incidence and mortality in women of all ages in the Latin American region. Each year, an estimated 63,068 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in Latin America, with 29,222 deaths from this disease.

Although many countries of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) have been using cytology as a screening technique for over 30 years, cervical cancer is still the second most common malignant neoplasm in women of all ages in terms of incidence and mortality...

Despite its preventable nature and availability of effective new technologies, cervical cancer remains among the leading causes of cancer deaths in women in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC)...

This report summarizes the results of a recent assessment of non-Latin Caribbean country policies and services for cervical cancer prevention and control.   It is intended to provide a snapshot of the currently available services and capacity, and to serve as a reference for program strengthening.