Caleb Ayong, Executive Director of Vital Voices for Africa (VVA), has issued a passionate plea to African governments and development partners to prioritize cervical cancer prevention and control.
Ayong emphasized that focusing on this initiative could lead to the elimination of the disease across the continent.
Speaking during the #HerReasonForBeing virtual event hosted by Being Africa on July 17, 2024, Ayong highlighted a critical barrier preventing women from seeking cervical cancer screening—namely, the discomfort of undergoing screenings that involve exposing private parts to male medical practitioners.
He underscored the urgency of early detection, noting that cervical cancer often progresses without symptoms until it reaches an advanced stage where treatment options become limited. Regular screening, therefore, plays a crucial role in early diagnosis and effective treatment.
In August 2020, the World Health Assembly adopted the Global Strategy for cervical cancer elimination, setting ambitious targets to reduce incidence rates. These targets include vaccinating 90% of girls against HPV by age 15, screening 70% of women by ages 35 and 45 using high-performance tests, and ensuring that 90% of women with precancerous conditions receive treatment.
Ayong stressed the need for governments and partners to invest in more accessible and affordable screening methods to encourage greater participation among women. He cited the pap smear conducted by healthcare professionals and the self-applied HPV DNA test as effective methods needing broader availability.
“It is possible to eliminate cervical cancer, but it lacks priority status among African governments and development partners,” Ayong lamented. “Investing in user-friendly screening methods can significantly increase screening rates, leading to earlier detection and reduced fatalities.”
Drawing parallels with successful public health campaigns like the Roll Back Malaria initiative, Ayong urged similar investments and sensitization efforts for cervical cancer eradication. He highlighted the importance of targeting vaccination and screening efforts toward women of the appropriate age groups, leveraging existing healthcare infrastructure to achieve comprehensive coverage.
According to the WHO, cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most common cancer among women globally, with a disproportionately high incidence and mortality rate in low- and middle-income countries. Ayong emphasized that with targeted investments in HPV vaccines, efficient screening methods, and robust healthcare strategies, Africa has the potential to reduce cervical cancer cases and deaths significantly.
“By prioritizing this issue, we can save lives and empower women across the continent,” Ayong concluded, urging collective action towards achieving WHO’s ambitious goals for cervical cancer elimination by 2030.
