The World Health organisation (WHO) has urged its 194 Member States to actively engage in awareness campaigns, promote screening and encourage Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination among their young women.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa made the call in her message to mark the Cervical Cancer Awareness Month.
The month with theme “Learn. Prevent. Screen” which is been celebrated every January, emphasises the necessity of educating people with knowledge about minimising cervical cancer risks and the life-saving importance of regular screenings
Moeti said that in 2023, WHO launched a three-year project to integrate breast and cervical cancer services into primary health care services.
According to her, regarding screening, WHO is supporting countries in the region to move toward screening for the presence of HPV as a pointer towards the possible presence of cervical cancer.
She said 16 countries are using the technique, and a major breakthrough in screening was the use of self-sampling kits that test for HPV.
“This can be done at community health centres, as is happening in Kenya, and means that women do not have to travel to larger centres.
“I will urge all countries in the region to actively engage in awareness campaigns, promote screening and encourage HPV vaccination among their young women”.
“As we start 2024, let’s keep cervical cancer high on our agenda. My message is clear: first, cervical cancer can be prevented and it can be cured.
“Everyone needs to be aware of the disease, what causes it and how it can be prevented.
“Second, there is no one intervention that will achieve this – we need to harness a range of techniques and approaches,” she said.
Moeti said that another move towards accelerating the introduction of the life-saving HPV vaccine was towards using only one dose shown to be highly effective.
