HPV-related diseases affect millions worldwide, irrespective of sex or gender. HPV can cause a range of cancers - cervical, anal, penile, vaginal, vulval, head and neck - as well as genital warts and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP). Yet gender-neutral HPV vaccination, despite its numerous benefits, been implemented in only about 70 countries. In almost all middle and low income countries with an HPV vaccination programme, girls alone are vaccinated.
Global Action on Men’s Health and NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV Campaign and Global Action on Men’s Health, are two organisations dedicated to promoting health and well-being on a global scale. Together, they are embarking on a mission to ensure global universal access to gender-neutral HPV vaccination, a vital step towards a healthier future for all.
By focusing only on the vaccination of girls to prevent cervical cancer, girls-only programmes fail to protect males sufficiently from the cancers caused by HPV. They also fail to protect unvaccinated women from infection by men, a particular problem in countries with low vaccination rates in girls. Girls-only programmes also mean that they unfairly shoulder the responsibility for prevention. With vaccine supply increasing, single-dose programmes changing cost-effectiveness calculations and new evidence showing that 21% of males have a high-risk (cancer-causing) HPV infection, it is time to make gender-neutral HPV vaccination a global policy and priority.
Through this call for global gender-neutral HPV vaccination, we are not only safeguarding the health of current generations, male and female, but also paving the way for a future where HPV-related cancers and diseases are relics of the past.
This initiative was launched by Global Action on Men’s Health and NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV at the World Cancer Congress in Geneva on 19 September 2024. If you missed the live event you can watch 'Boys, men and HPV the case for worldwide gender neutral vaccination', and learn about our vision for a HPV cancer free future.
NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV is an organisation started by three siblings after losing their mother to cancer caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Inspired by their mother’s courage, they resolved to eradicate HPV and prevent HPV cancers from ending other people’s lives prematurely. NOMAN’s global work encompasses advocacy and education, coalition building, and generating evidence-based calls to action to educate and ultimately convince policymakers that HPV elimination is possible, but only via gender-neutral HPV immunisation. NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV is a programme of the HPV and Anal Cancer Foundation, a registered charity in England and Wales and the USA.
About Us
GAMH was launched during International Men’s Health Week in June 2014 and registered as a UK-based charity in May 2019. It brings together organisations and others with an interest in men’s health in a global advocacy network. Its mission is to create a world where all men and boys have the opportunity to achieve the best possible health and wellbeing wherever they live and whatever their backgrounds.
Endorsed by:
A Luta por Ela
American Medical Women's Association
Astra Forum Foundation
Budi mRAK
Cancer Alliance
Cancer Patients Europe
Cancer Warriors Foundation
Centre for African Justice, Peace and Human Rights
Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDs (COWLHA)
Croatian Pharmacy and Medical Biochemistry Students' Association (CPSA)
Danish Cancer Society
EAU
EPF
European Cancer Organisation
Eve Appeal
Everything for Her (Sve za Nju)
EZRA (North Macedonia)
Federation of Medical Women of Canada (FMWC)
Fiji Cancer Society
FIP
Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing
Frontline AIDS
Fundacion Salbo
Get A Head
Habait Shel Bar (Israel Women's Cancer Association)
Head and Neck Cancer Alliance
HPV Cancers Alliance
HPV Coalition - Bulgaria
HPV Global Action
HPV Prevention and Control Board
IANS (International Anal Neoplasia Society)
IAPAC
Irish Cancer Society
ISKORAK
Life Quality Improvement Organisation
Men 4 Equality Trust
Men's Foundation
Men’s Health and Wellbeing WA
Men's Health Forum Denmark
Men's Health Forum Great Britain
Men's Health Forum in Ireland
Men's Health Foundation (Germany)
Men's Health Network
MENA Coalition for HPV Elimination
Movember
National Cancer Society Malaysia
NO TABOO
Oracle Head and Neck Cancer UK
Orchid
Outreach Scout Foundation
Partnership for Male Youth
Philippine Cancer Society
Pink Life Association
Population Services International (PSI)
Qatar Cancer Society
Singapore Men's Health Society (SMHS)
Soweto Cancer Society
Swedish Cancer Society
Taiwan Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
Taiwan Young Patient Association
Throat Cancer Foundation
Unako
UNASCAD (Union des Amis Socio Culturels d'Action en Developpement)
V Care
WFPHA
WONCA Europe
Young Tongues
GAMH wishes to thank MSD, Advanced Accelerator Applications (a Novartis Company) and NOMAN is an Island: Race to End HPV for supporting its work on men, HPV and cancer. MSD and AAA have neither sought nor had any influence or control over the content of this initiative.