UNSW Sydney has received a landmark $25.9 million donation from Sam Swire-led Swire Group.
The funds will allow the Kirby Institute to screen and treat more than a hundred thousand women in seven Pacific countries for cervical cancer.
UNSW Sydney has received its largest single philanthropic donation to work with regional partners to tackle one of the deadliest preventable cancers in the Pacific.
The $25.9 million donation from the Swire Group will enable the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney to work with partners in Australia and our region to support vital cervical screening and treatment services for over 130,000 women in seven countries: Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Rates of cervical cancer in the Pacific are among the highest in the world, according to the World Health Organization, with Pacific women up to 14 times more likely to die from cervical cancer than women in Australia.
“Cervical cancer is the number one cause of cancer-related death among women in the Pacific and is devastating to women, families, and entire communities across our region. This generous investment will enable countries like Samoa to partner with the Kirby Institute to advance our vision of a world free of cervical cancer,” said Fiamē Naomi Mataʻafa, Prime Minister of Samoa.
Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, a common virus spread through sexual contact. Most women with HPV infection or early cervical disease do not experience symptoms so early detection through screening is crucial.
“This landmark investment will enable us to work with countries across the Pacific over the next five years to advance our collective vision of a world free of cervical cancer and ultimately save thousands of lives across our region,” says Professor Andrew Vallely, who is co-leading the work at the Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney with Project Manager Vanessa Price.
The Swire Group, which made the $25.9m donation, has its headquarters in the United Kingdom.
“We are delighted to support the Kirby Institute, which has an excellent reputation in the region for highly impactful research conducted in partnership with local leaders, communities, and organizations,” said Sam Swire, Executive Director. “Through Swire Shipping, we have been serving the Pacific Island nations for over 70 years. Tragically, in the Pacific, women are dying from a disease that is preventable, and this program targets its elimination,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor and President of UNSW Sydney, Professor Attila Brungs, says the announcement is a triumph of effective collaboration to address an issue with major societal impact. “Through the generosity of the Swire Group, the commitment of Pacific country health departments, the tireless work of communities and services on the ground, and the expertise and support of UNSW’s Kirby Institute, we are moving towards a future where cervical cancer is no longer a threat to women.”
The Kirby Institute at UNSW Sydney has worked with partners in Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Australia since 2010 to co-design and evaluate strategies for cervical screening in PNG and other countries in the region. This new grant will build on the earlier Eliminating Cervical Cancer in the Western Pacific (ECCWP) program, opens in a new window funded by the Australian Minderoo Foundation and complement the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) program, opens in a new window funded by the Australian government, and recently expanded as part of the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative, opens in a new window in September 2024. Collectively, these initiatives will support countries in implementing sustainable cervical cancer elimination strategies.
Professor Anthony Kelleher, Director of the Kirby Institute, says he’s excited about working in partnership with Pacific Island communities to eliminate this preventable cancer.
“It is not acceptable that women in our neighboring countries face considerably worse health outcomes than Australian women,” he said.
“At the Kirby Institute, we work with people for people to ensure that we all have equal access to high-quality, accessible, and appropriate health care.”
Lindsay Robinson, Chief Advancement Officer at UNSW Sydney, said the donation captures the University’s proactive approach and capacity for positive change.
“We are profoundly grateful to the Swire Group for this exceptional donation, which exemplifies true partnership and empowers us to significantly enhance our efforts, ensuring a lasting impact on public health in the Pacific region.”