A Shared Vision for South East Europe: Eliminating HPV Cancers Together
The European Cancer Organisation is pleased to announce a new conference titled: A Shared Vision for South East Europe: Eliminating HPV Cancers Together. The event will take place on Thursday, 23 January 2025, and will be proudly held at the Bulgarian Parliament building, with thanks to the kind hosting of Dr. Alexander Simidchiev, Member of the Bulgarian Parliament.
This unique focus event will bring together health leaders, policymakers, researchers, and advocates from across South East Europe to address pressing issues in HPV vaccination, screening, and prevention. It will share learnings, debate ways and foster exchange of ideas.
The conference will serve as a platform to strengthen regional collaboration, share successful practices, and discuss challenges and opportunities for the new year in combating HPV-related cancers across borders in South East Europe. By convening stakeholders from diverse backgrounds, the event aims to accelerate progress towards the elimination of these cancers across the region.
Key topics of discussion will include:
- Enhancing HPV vaccination uptake to achieve higher coverage rates.
- Improving access to and effectiveness of screening programmes.
- Addressing barriers to prevention and fostering sustainable policy solutions.
- Developing strong effective stakeholder coalitions for action.
- Interrogating the latest data on South East Europe's HPV elimination progress.
This event underscores the ECO’s commitment to leading collective efforts in the fight against HPV-related cancers and driving impactful action through regional partnerships.
Register now to secure your place as a participant, either in person or online.
Programme
Please note that the below schedule is in Eastern European Time (EET), as the event will be hosted in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Moderated by:
- Prof. Daniel Kelly - PROTECT-EUROPE Steering Committee Co-Chair & Co-Chair of the European Cancer Organisation's HPV and Hep B Action Network
- Prof. Momchil Baev - HPV Bulgaria Consultant, European Cancer Organisation
13:30 - 14:00 |
Registration & Coffee |
14:00 - 14:45 |
Setting the scene: the European landscapeHigh-level speakers from the political , EU and global health background will elaborate on the vision of HPV elimination and the role that the South East European region can play. Speakers include:
|
14:45 - 15:30 |
Coffee break & snacks |
15:30 – 15:45 |
Sharing best practices: how to form an HPV coalitionCase studies on coalition forming from Croatia, Romania and Bulgaria will be shared and vibrant discussions will be engendered on the extention of this approach to other countries in the South East European region. Speakers include:
|
15:45 – 16:30 |
Benefits and challenges of dashboards and data usage for informed decision-making and cost reduction in South East EuropeSpotlight on the European Cancer Pulse and the Cervical Cancer Elimination Atlas. |
16:30 – 17:15 |
Meeting the HPV vaccination challenges across the regionHow to work together with different advocates, stakeholders and organisations to promote gender-neutral vaccination uptake, improved delivery of vaccination, combating hesitancy in the general population and setting up vaccine registries. Speakers include:
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17:15 – 18:15 |
Cervical cancer screening policies across the South East Europe regionA comparison of approaches between different countries in South East Europe , including a focus on the forms of testing performed, self-sampling, genotyping and the institution of screening registries. Speakers include:
|
18:15 – 18:30 |
Uniting forces: statements of support |
18:30 - 18:45 |
Signing of a joint declaration with all the countries gathered |
19:00 - 21:30 |
Reception & Networking (cocktail and dinner) in the Bulgarian ParliamentCentral Military Club, Floor 2, Ceremonial Hall |
Speakers
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Emanuela Dodeva President and Co-Founder, EZRA
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Marina Davidashvili Head of Policy and Research, European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights
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Amil Družić Medical Doctor, Oncology Clinic of the Sarajevo Clinical Center University
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Tamar Khomasuridze Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor, United Nations Populations Fund
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Alexander Simidchiev Member of the Bulgarian Parliament
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Mehmet Ungan Professor, Ankara University School of Medicine; past President of WONCA Europe
Speakers
-
Emanuela Dodeva President and Co-Founder, EZRA
-
Marina Davidashvili Head of Policy and Research, European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights
-
Amil Družić Medical Doctor, Oncology Clinic of the Sarajevo Clinical Center University
-
Tamar Khomasuridze Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor, United Nations Populations Fund
-
Alexander Simidchiev Member of the Bulgarian Parliament
-
Mehmet Ungan Professor, Ankara University School of Medicine; past President of WONCA Europe
-
Emanuela Dodeva President and Co-Founder, EZRA
-
Marina Davidashvili Head of Policy and Research, European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights
-
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Daniel Kelly PROTECT-EUROPE Steering Committee Co-Chair & Co-Chair of the ECO HPV and Hep B Action Network Read Bio
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Tamar Khomasuridze Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor, United Nations Populations Fund Read Bio
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Alexander Simidchiev Member of the Bulgarian Parliament
-
Mehmet Ungan Professor, Ankara University School of Medicine; past President of WONCA Europe Read Bio
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Speakers
-
Emanuela Dodeva President and Co-Founder, EZRA
-
Marina Davidashvili Head of Policy and Research, European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights
-
Amil Družić Medical Doctor, Oncology Clinic of the Sarajevo Clinical Center University
-
Tamar Khomasuridze Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor, United Nations Populations Fund
-
Alexander Simidchiev Member of the Bulgarian Parliament
-
Mehmet Ungan Professor, Ankara University School of Medicine; past President of WONCA Europe
Speakers
-
Emanuela Dodeva President and Co-Founder, EZRA
-
Marina Davidashvili Head of Policy and Research, European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual & Reproductive Rights
-
Amil Družić Medical Doctor, Oncology Clinic of the Sarajevo Clinical Center University
-
Tamar Khomasuridze Regional Sexual and Reproductive Health Advisor, United Nations Populations Fund
-
Alexander Simidchiev Member of the Bulgarian Parliament
-
Mehmet Ungan Professor, Ankara University School of Medicine; past President of WONCA Europe
