The Minister for Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, shall launch on Tuesday 5 February in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, the first Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Forum. This type of cancer is one of the most frequent ones and a totally preventable disease through the human papilloma virus vaccine.
During the weekly celebration of events to mark International Women's Day, Minister Albares is taking part in this Forum organised by the Governments of Spain and Colombia, together with different international organisations linked to the promotion of health: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organisation, the Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) and UNICEF, among others.
The meeting is being held at a key moment so as to achieve three goals as defined by the countries that subscribe to the WHO global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer: to reach 90% of girls worldwide vaccinated against the human papilloma virus by the age of 15; to provide screening tests to 70% of women at the age of 35 and again at the age of 45; and to offer treatment to 90% of women with precancerous lesions or invasive cancer. These three measures could prevent nearly half a million deaths each year from the disease.
The Forum will be held at the Spanish Cooperation Training Centre in Cartagena de Indias, which this year celebrates 20 years of work in the country. This is a centre belonging to the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the contribution of which is key to the processes of modernisation and reform of Latin American States.
The Minister will also be holding a meeting with the Carolina Colombia Foundation, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
During his stay in Colombia, the Minister will learn about the progress made in the peace talks between the Government of Gustavo Petro and the ELN guerrillas, in which Spain is an accompanying country, and will hold a meeting with the Colombian Foreign Minister in charge, Luis Gilberto Murillo.
Presence in Panama
From Cartagena de Indias, the Minister will fly to Panama City, where his programme will include political, economic and cooperation events. In the Panamanian capital, José Manuel Albares will meet with the Panamanian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Janaina Tewaney.
In Panama City, the Minister will visit the OAH-AECID Logistics Centre, one of the Agency's most important centres, which is capable of deploying water, sanitation, hygiene, and shelter equipment within 24 hours, in order to provide response to emergency situations arising out of disasters in the region. This Logistics Centre is part of the global network for Humanitarian Response Depots belonging to the United Nations World Food Programme, of which Spain is the main sponsor.
Before returning to Spain, the Minister for Foreign Affairs will hold a meeting with representatives of Spanish companies present in the country, some of which have participated in the Panama Canal expansion works and are developing important infrastructure projects in the country.