Cervical Cancer Epidemic in Africa: A Call to Action for Equitable Access to Vaccines and Screening
The African region is grappling with a growing burden of cervical cancer, with the highest rates of new cases and deaths worldwide. Despite being preventable and treatable, cervical cancer remains the most common cause of cancer-related deaths in Africa, accounting for nearly a quarter of the global total.
At a special event during the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa, African health ministers and partners emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to affordable human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines and HPV DNA testing to accelerate progress towards elimination. Currently, only 28 countries in the African region have introduced HPV vaccines into routine immunization programs, with just four achieving 90% vaccination coverage in 2023. Screening coverage is also very low, with only 11% of women surveyed having undergone HPV-based screening.
The WHO’s Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, highlighted the stark illustration of global inequities, which exacerbate barriers including scarce resources, lack of prioritization by funders, and limited capacity to manage the threat. She emphasized the need for affordable and accessible HPV tests and vaccines to accelerate elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem in the region.
According to modeling by HPV-ADVISE, involving 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, current vaccination coverage and screening uptake rates are inadequate to enable elimination of cervical cancer by 2100. However, if countries achieve and maintain the WHO-recommended 90% vaccination coverage for girls and 70% screening uptake targets, the modeling shows that 24 million cervical cancers would be averted by the turn of the century.
The special event aimed to spark high-level political advocacy and partner buy-in, specifically the initiation of a joint regional mechanism to increase access to HPV vaccines and HPV-based tests, boosting cervical cancer screening and prevention coverage. The WHO stressed the importance of delivering cervical cancer services within a people-centred, primary health care approach to ensure accessibility and sustainability.
In Cameroon, Malawi, Uganda, and Zimbabwe, cervical cancer screening has been integrated into HIV and sexual and reproductive health services, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach. The proven cost-effectiveness of these interventions supports the argument for broader implementation, with all eligible women who visit health facilities being offered comprehensive cervical cancer services.
As Dr. Phillipe Duneton, Executive Director of Unitaid, emphasized, "As partners, we need to take advantage of the overlap between cervical cancer and other services for women, such as HIV programs and reproductive health services, to ensure integration at policy, financing, program, and service level."
