WASHINGTON, CMC – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) said they have brought together this week various stakeholders, including government representatives and academic institutions to develop a plan of action for reducing deaths caused by breast and cervical cancer.

The two UN organizations said that the meeting, which will also be attended by the private sector, is to develop a plan of action for screening, early diagnosis, education and treatment for these cancers and for expanded vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV).

They said an estimated 400,000 women are diagnosed with breast or cervical cancer each year in the Americas, and at least 20,000 die from these diseases. Both types of cancer are preventable and treatable through screening, early diagnosis and proper treatment.