A program to improve Chinese women's cervical health was launched by the China Women Development Foundation on Thursday in Beijing.

Sponsored by pharmaceutical company MSD China, "Shell Action" aims to enhance women's awareness of cervical cancer via educational approaches.

The campaign organizer will hold lectures, and also distribute videos and brochures to female students and workers in 20 provinces and cities from October to December 2015. It is estimated that the project will benefit about 10 million families nationwide in three years.

"During our previous free screening for breast and cervical cancer, we are sorry to see many women miss the best time for treatment due to their lack of cervical health knowledge," CWDF Secretary-General Qin Guoying said.

Cervical cancer is the third-most common cancer among women worldwide. There are 135,000 new cervical cancer cases each year in China, according to MSD China.