Prioritizing Cervical Cancer Elimination in Africa: A Call to Action
Dr. Catherine Nyongesa, a prominent Kenyan oncologist, has urged African governments and development partners to prioritize cervical cancer prevention and control. She highlights the significant opportunity to eradicate this disease through concerted efforts.
One major barrier to screening is the discomfort many women feel about exposing their private parts to male medical practitioners.
Medical experts warn that early-stage cervical cancer typically shows no symptoms, leading to late detection when treatment options are limited. Dr. Nyongesa advocates for regular screenings to catch the disease early when it is still treatable. In August 2020, the World Health Assembly launched the Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination, aiming to reduce the incidence rate to below 4 per 100,000 women by 2030.
This strategy includes three targets: vaccinating 90% of girls with the HPV vaccine by age 15, screening 70% of women with high-performance tests by ages 35 and 45 and treating 90% of women with pre-cancer and managing 90% of those with invasive cancer.
Dr. Nyongesa highlights the necessity for governments and development partners to prioritize HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. She advocates for screening methods that are more accessible, affordable, and less intrusive to encourage more women to undergo screening. Currently, the pap smear and the more expensive HPV DNA test are the approved screening methods.
Dr. Nyongesa insists that the eradication of cervical cancer is achievable but not currently prioritized by African governments and development partners.
She calls for significant investment to make cervical cancer screening more user-friendly and less intrusive, thereby increasing screening rates, early detection, and reducing advanced-stage cases. Drawing parallels to the successful Roll Back Malaria initiative, she urges similar investments for cervical cancer eradication.
The WHO reports cervical cancer as the fourth most common cancer in women globally, with around 660,000 new cases and 350,000 deaths in 2022, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. School-based programs have led to an increase in HPV vaccination coverage in Kenya, from 30% to 60%. The HPV vaccine, which protects against several cancers, is safe and effective, with countries like Scotland and Australia seeing no cases of cervical cancer among vaccinated women.
Key messages include the importance of early diagnosis, immediate checking of post-menopausal bleeding, and addressing foul discharge through pelvic exams rather than antibiotics. Vaccinating at least 90% of girls can significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence, saving millions of lives. The focus should be on cancer prevention rather than STI-related stigma, committing to protecting our children and reducing cancer burdens in our communities.
Dr. Nyongesa concludes that by prioritizing HPV vaccination and screening and investing in more comfortable and accessible screening methods, Africa can eliminate cervical cancer. The WHO’s Global Strategy targets are attainable with coordinated efforts, ultimately leading to the eradication of cervical cancer on the continent.
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