This January, the Government of British Columbia announced the launch of a new program to improve access to cervical cancer screening through an at-home self-screening test. This program aims is to eliminate the disease through early detection and phase out conventional pap tests, a ground breaking achievement in women's health, aligning with the spirit of International Women's Day on March 8.

Now, anyone who is asymptomatic and between the age of 25 to 69 can request a free HPV self-screening kit from BC Cancer. Participants can mail in the vaginal swab samples to the lab or drop them off with a health-care provider to get results within four to six weeks.

The team includes Dr. Gina Ogilvie, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Global Control of HPV-related Disease at the University of British Columbia who is recognized globally for her exceptional research contributions and dedication to advancing the worldwide eradication of HPV-related diseases and cancer. In Uganda and Rwanda, the Advances in Screening and Prevention in Reproductive Cancers (ASPIRE) Projects aim to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of community-based self-collection techniques to enhance cervical cancer screening accessibility for women in low- and middle-income countries.

In May 2023, Dr. Ogilvie became the Co-Executive Medical Director of the Institute for Global Health at BC Children's Hospital and BC Women's Hospital + Health Centre (C&W), where she is supporting the community in developing and implementing a shared vision and strategy centered on our commitment to global health equity at C&W.