OPPORTUNITY
To be part of a groundbreaking program to eliminate cervical cancer in Timor-Leste, saving women’s lives, using a tried and tested three-pronged model: vaccinating, testing and treating. An estimated $3.20 is returned to the economy for every dollar invested through 2050, rising to US$26.00 when societal benefits are incorporated, for every dollar invested through 2050 due to increases in women’s participation in the workforce.

THE PROBLEM

• In Timor-Leste, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women.
• There are an estimated 161,000 women aged 30-49 years who are eligible for testing in Timor-Leste, but who do not have access to the testing and treatment that could save their lives.
• Saving the lives of young mothers also means preventing their children from becoming orphans.

THE SOLUTION

• Australia is on the verge of eliminating cervical cancer (by 2030) and will be one of the first countries in the world to do so. We are sharing our tools to assist neighbouring countries to end this cancer too!
• The new Timorese Government has invited the C4 consortium (www.cervicalcancercontrol.org.au) to assist the country to eliminate cervical cancer.
• Using the succesful model being implemented in PNG and Vanuatu, C4 has now also been invited to implement our three-pronged project model in Timor-Leste. The elimination work in the Pacific has been made possible thanks to a landmark philanthropic investment from the Minderoo Foundation.
• The Minderoo Foundation Investment has leveraged the donation of essential diagnostic equipment, materials by industry biotechnology partner Cepheid, support from the Asian Development Bank and in-kind contributions from partner governments.

THE COST

• The model program is estimated to cost AUD 1.2million, over 2 years, for 8,000 women.
• Costs per woman reached = $150
• This cost includes:
  + training of nurses and medical staff
  + community mobilisation
  + testing eligible women
  + treating women found to be positive with thermal ablation
  + supporting those women who need referring for more advanced treatment

THE APPROACH

PRONG 1: VACCINATION
Almost all cervical cancer is caused by a virus (human papilloma virus - HPV). The vaccine – developed by the Australian scientist Professor Ian Frazer – is highly effective in preventing cervical cancers, especially if given to adolescents aged 9-14 years. The Timorese Government will be implementing their HPV vaccination program in late 2023, supported by C4 partners, UNICEF and Gavi, the Global Vaccine Alliance.

PRONG 2: TEST AND TREAT PILOT PROGRAM
The test-and-treat model project will initially support HPV testing for 8,000 women, and treatment for those who return a positive test positive (estimated at around 15%).

PRONG 3: COUNTRY-WIDE SCALE-UP
Through modelling and investment case support, we will inform policy decisions and national guidelines, help the development of effective referral networks, care pathways and provide specialized workforce training.

SUPPORT

The Timor Leste project is a C4 collaboration between Australia’s leaders in cervical cancer control, in both HPV vaccination and cervical screening, with the Daffodil Centre (a joint venture between Cancer Council NSW and The University of Sydney), the Kirby Institute UNSW Sydney, the Australian Centre for Cervical Cancer Prevention, and Family Planning Australia.

C4 has been offered logistic and other support from the Timorese Ministry of Health, the Australian Embassy and the World Health Organisation Timor-Leste to implement this program.

“Be part of a groundbreaking program to eliminate cervical cancer in Timor-Leste, saving women’s lives”