In 2020 the World Health Organization rolled out a global strategy to eradicate cervical cancer by 2030. This is the fourth-most common cancer among women, claiming an estimated 350,000 lives globally in 2022. More than 80,000 of these deaths were recorded in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, one woman dies every two minutes from this disease, which is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical cancer is preventable. The global strategy has three pillars: getting 90% of girls vaccinated against HPV by age 15; ensuring 70% of women are screened by the age of 45; and having 90% of women with invasive cancer managed. We spoke to a team of researchers and oncologists dedicated to eliminating cervical cancer in Africa for insights into the disease.
What is cervical cancer?
It develops in the cervix, which is the lower part of the uterus, connecting it to the vagina. Nearly 90% of cases stem from persistent infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection.
