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Access without awareness
HPV vaccines are available in most BRICS markets, yet public awareness and demand remain insufficient to translate availability into impact.
Initiative · B4H
BRICS4Her
No woman should face a preventable disease.A youth-led, cross-border programme working to reduce the burden of cervical cancer across BRICS and extended BRICS nations — by expanding HPV vaccination, promoting regular screening, and breaking down the cultural and informational barriers that limit preventive care.
- HPV vaccination advocacy
- Screening access
- Youth-led awareness
- Community outreach
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About the initiative
BRICS4Her was established to advance the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health threat across BRICS and extended BRICS nations. Guided by the principle that no woman should face a preventable disease due to lack of information or access, it unites young leaders, medical experts and institutional partners in a coordinated effort to promote HPV vaccination, expand screening, and dismantle the barriers that continue to limit preventive care.
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The global health imperative
Cervical cancer remains among the most preventable forms of cancer, yet it continues to impose a significant burden on public health systems. Although the HPV vaccine is available across most BRICS markets, uptake remains persistently low. China and India together account for the largest share of cases and fatalities, while South Africa, despite its comparatively smaller population, registers one of the highest mortality rates among BRICS nations.
- estimated new cases in BRICS countries in 2022
- 325,801
- related deaths in the same year
- 159,384
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Our strategic approach
BRICS4Her is founded upon three interlinked realities that define cervical cancer prevention across the region.
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Persistent screening gaps
A significant proportion of adult women do not undergo regular screening, often due to limited information, resource constraints or inadequate access to services.
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Youth as agents of change
Young leaders have a unique capacity to mobilise communities, shift public discourse and advocate for lasting reform in preventive healthcare.
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Objectives
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Raise awareness
Deliver accurate, culturally sensitive information on cervical cancer prevention to diverse communities.
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Promote vaccination
Advance HPV vaccination uptake through sustained, targeted public health campaigns.
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Advance screening
Champion accessible, regular screening, with emphasis on underserved and remote communities.
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Engage medical expertise
Collaborate with oncologists, gynaecologists and public health professionals on expert-led education.
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Strengthen partnerships
Build relationships with NGOs, healthcare providers and educational institutions to scale outreach.
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Enable data-driven action
Map and analyse public health data to inform evidence-based interventions.
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Areas of action
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Youth-led awareness campaigns
Campus-based and digital advocacy driven by trained youth ambassadors across BRICS nations.
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Expert engagement
Webinars and public seminars featuring leading specialists in oncology and women’s health.
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Screening & vaccination drives
Coordinated with local health authorities and civil society to expand affordable and free access to preventive services.
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Community outreach
Direct, community-based information across rural, peri-urban and urban settings.
The prevention of cervical cancer is not merely a medical undertaking; it is a matter of equity, dignity and shared responsibility.
BRICS4Her invites governments, institutions, civil society organisations and young leaders across BRICS and extended BRICS nations to join this movement — and to stand together in building a future in which every woman has the knowledge, access and support she needs to live free from a preventable disease.
BRICS4Her
No woman should face a preventable disease.