One life Lost is Way Too Many! Accelerate Efforts to Eliminate Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is among the very few cancers that can be prevented and treated yet in Kenya, cervical cancer remains a significant public health and development issue ranked as the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women and girls. According to the Ministry of Health, annually, approximately 6,000 new cases are diagnosed, accounting for 21% of all new cancer cases in women, with nearly 3,600 deaths reported each year. This data highlights a treatment and prevention gap that is systemic, that despite evidence and strong policies and targets, women and girls to die from preventable deaths. This is a systems issue.

Sadly, cervical cancer prevention and treatment disparities is shaped by a range of factors impacting mostly women from low resource settings such us informal settlements and those from rural areas. Challenges such us limited financial resources lead to delayed detection and inability to afford treatment. In addition, the shortage of health resources including trained healthcare providers and equipment continues to widen the treatment and service access gaps between the haves and the have nots. The need for targeted community awareness and mobilization of resources to ensure no one is left behind is critical. 

The World Health organization report that cervical cancer could be the first cancer ever in the world to be eliminated, if 90% of girls are vaccinated, 70% of women are screened and 90% of women with cervical cancer receive treatment. Aligned with the WHO global elimination targets, this year, Kenya launched the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2026-2030, a five-year strategy to prevent, detect and treat cervical cancer as an elimination plan. Challenges such us financing gaps, weak referral systems and community awareness may deter the country from achieving cervical cancer elimination targets.

Eliminating cervical cancer requires a sustained finance investment. The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 provide that one in four people have a form of insurance cover. This data presents a worrying trend that many Kenyans use out of pocket to finance essential health services. With proper leadership and management, the Social Health Insurance Fund (SHIF) presents an opportunity for increasing service uptake. Since health is devolved in Kenya, the government should increase county budgetary allocation on sexual reproductive health issues including cervical cancer.

Cervical cancer elimination is not just a medical issue; it is a social issue. Like other reproductive health issues, there is a lot of stigma that is associated with cervical cancer. It is therefore critical that prevention and treatment efforts also address social cultural issues by creating community awareness using both online and offline strategies and supporting and or funding mental health programs for patients and their caregivers. Financing mental health of patients and caregivers improves their quality of life.

Elimination of cervical cancer is possible. HPV vaccine and treatment must be expanded using community-based strategies leveraging on existing community resources like schools, churches and community health promoters. And finally, to eliminate cervical cancer there is need to engage a wide range of stakeholders in elimination efforts including community-based organizations, local administration, religious leaders, healthcare providers, government, donors and communities.