Singapore’s leading cancer charity partnered with the Alliance for Active Action Against HPV (A4HPV) to trial self-administered cervical screening during a women’s health event as part of its month-long Women’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness campaign.

• The joint community event with A4HPV aimed to improve uptake of screening for cervical cancer, a disease that remains highly preventable yet persistently under-screened for in Singapore.
• This marks the first time Singapore Cancer Society is offering HPV self-sampling in the community, with results to inform ongoing efforts to support the national drive to increase cervical cancer screening rates.

17 May 2025, Singapore – As part of its ongoing efforts to make cervical cancer screening more accessible, the Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) partnered with the Alliance for Active Action Against HPV (A4HPV) to trial its first-ever community-based implementation of HPV self-sampling, giving women the opportunity to screen themselves during a women’s health event at Tampines West Community Club.

The initiative was part of a research study led by A4HPV – a ground-up youth volunteer initiative – to evaluate the acceptability of self-sampling in community settings to improve screening rates. It also builds on A4HPV’s ongoing advocacy and awareness efforts around HPV self-sampling. SCS will provide follow-up care for participants with abnormal results, including inviting them to undergo further Pap and HPV testing at the Singapore Cancer Society Clinic @ Bishan.

Despite being among the top 10 cancers among women in Singapore, cervical cancer screening rates have declined from 57.9% in 2007 to 43.1% in 2022, according to the National Population Health Survey (2022). Women who do not attend screening are at higher risk of developing cervical cancer due to the potential for persistent high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infections to go undetected and untreated.

At the SCS women’s health event, eligible participants were guided to collect their own vaginal samples using a swab in a private setting. The samples were then sent to a laboratory for testing. “The instructions were very easy to understand, and it is much easier to do it on your own. I know of many people who are too shy to do [screenings]. I would like to tell them that it’s much better to do screenings earlier,” said Madam Alimanachiya Abdulla, 60, a housewife who attended the event and tried out HPV self-sampling.

Organised with support from the People’s Association, the event also featured health talks with doctors and cancer survivors, and peer-led “SCS Sharing Circles” that created safe spaces for women to exchange personal experiences and strengthen their understanding of women’s cancers.

Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister for Social and Family Development and adviser to Tampines Grassroots Organisations, expressed his support for the initiative, which was held in his constituency: “Together with the Tampines West Women's Executive Committee, community-led initiatives like this are important in encouraging women to take charge of their health. I commend the Singapore Cancer Society for bringing screening options closer to the ground and in motivating women to protect themselves from preventable diseases like cervical cancer. The risk of cancer increases with age – and women should get themselves protected through HPV vaccinations (for those aged 9 to 45) and go for regular screenings.”

HPV Self-Sampling: A More Convenient, Comfortable Alternative to Traditional Screening Methods

SCS's initiative followed the latest cervical cancer screening guidelines published by the Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology of Singapore (SCCPS) in March 2025, which recognised HPV self-sampling as a viable option alongside Pap and HPV tests.

Unlike conventional screening methods, which involve a speculum examination by a doctor, HPV self-sampling allows women to collect their own vaginal sample using a swab — increasing comfort, privacy, and accessibility, and potentially motivating women who might otherwise avoid screening.

Said Dr Ida Ismail-Pratt, an obstetrician and gynaecologist, and member of the SCS Women’s Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month Committee: “Women today have multiple ways to protect themselves through early screening and prevention—from clinic-based tests to HPV vaccination. Self-sampling could be another option. It is reliable, convenient, and has been shown to be comparable in efficacy to clinician-administered tests. It could also help reach women who might otherwise avoid screening due to personal or cultural barriers.”

Bridging the Gap Between Awareness and Action

A study published by SCS in 2024 highlighted key barriers to cervical cancer screening, including embarrassment, discomfort, and time constraints. The findings also revealed a strong correlation between higher participation rates and the acceptance of HPV self-sampling, suggesting that increasing awareness and accessibility of this method could improve screening uptake.

“As part of our mission to minimise cancer and maximise lives, SCS has been advancing cancer prevention through community-anchored innovations and outreach—dating back to the 1960s when we first offered free Pap tests,” said Mr Tan Kwang Cheak, Chief Executive Officer of SCS. “This initiative was an opportunity to trial HPV self-sampling in a real-world community setting, as part of our ongoing efforts to explore more accessible, acceptable ways to encourage screening— especially for women who may face barriers.”

SCS will assess feedback and outcomes from this initiative to explore how HPV self-sampling can complement national cervical screening strategies – including potential incorporation into its SCS Clinic @ Bishan and community engagement programmes in the future.

In the meantime, women can continue to book appointments for HPV and Pap tests, available at no cost at the SCS Clinic @ Bishan, or at Healthier SG clinics. For more information, members of the public can visit https://sgcancersociety.info/screening.

Media Contact:

Jeanne Tai

Head, Communications & Marketing, Singapore Cancer Society 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

9018-7843

About Singapore Cancer Society:

Minimising Cancer and Maximising Lives since 1964, Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) is a self-funded social service agency which provides an integrated continuum of care from cancer control and prevention to patient support services, survivorship, and palliative care. SCS’s key programmes and services include cancer screening programmes, public education, financial and welfare services, psychosocial support, survivorship care, rehabilitation programmes and hospice care. Consistently recognised for its commitment to high standards in governance and transparency, SCS has attained both the coveted Charity Governance Award (2023) and the Charity Transparency Award for four years, between 2019 to 2024. For more information, please visit www.singaporecancersociety.org.sg.

About the Alliance for Active Action Against HPV (A4HPV):

Since its launch in March 2021 as a youth-led initiative, the Alliance for Active Action Against HPV (A4HPV) has been striving to address the issue of HPV in Singapore. By focusing on HPV, the alliance aims to contribute to the reduction of cancer burdens in the country. Recognising that HPV is not solely a women's problem, the alliance actively reaches out to both females and males through grassroots and community groups to spread awareness about the impact of HPV. The core objective of the alliance is to encourage, empower, and mobilise the efforts of young individuals, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and government officials in the battle against HPV and cervical cancer. A4HPV aims to accelerate progress in Singapore on a promise made in 2020, when 194 countries including Singapore adopted World Health Organization's global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. More information of A4HPV can be found at: www.a4hpv.info