The health ministry has decided that from 2011, young girls will be provided with vaccination to prevent cervical cancer that is caused by papilloma virus. Cervical cancer is one of the most hazardous cancers usually transmitted by sexual intercourse. The vaccine for young boys will also be started following the decision.

This decision came up after, for a long time, this vaccination was thought to be expensive and not worth by the epidemiologists and executives. Main reason for this denial was that the rate of this cancer was less in the area due to high rate of circumcision among Jewish and Muslim males.

12 million people globally are diagnosed with cancer annually and 7.6 million including 9,500 only in Israel die of it. But according to ICA, not smoking, exercising regularly, eating healthy food and reducing alcohol consumption can noticeably help in preventing 40% of cancer cases.

Prof. David Hill, president of the International Union Against Cancer informed, "Thursday's international day is being devoted to the theme of pathogens that cause malignant tumours". Prof. Hill's organization represents 300 cancer societies in 100 countries round the globe and Israel is one of them.

The Israel Cancer Association has conveyed their satisfaction regarding the decision. ICA is marking The International Cancer Day on Thursday.