Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA CONSULT) on Sunday expressed frustration over the slow progress in eliminating cervical cancer by 2030 and urged African governments to accelerate efforts through transformative healthcare strategies.
“We cannot afford to lose more lives to this preventable disease. It’s time for African governments to mobilise and take concrete steps towards eradication of cervical cancer and save lives,” Mr Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director of CDA CONSULT, stated.
Speaking on the global Cervical Cancer Awareness Month observed in January, which focuses on raising awareness about cervical cancer, its prevention, and early detection, Mr Ameyibor acknowledged that while many African governments have taken steps, more needs to be done.
The global Cervical Cancer Awareness Month aims to increase understanding of the disease and encourage timely preventive actions such as regular screenings and vaccination to combat cervical cancer.
Mr Ameyibor stressed that achieving the goal of eliminating cervical cancer in Africa by 2030 requires scaling up HPV vaccination, improving cervical cancer screening, strengthening healthcare systems, and promoting awareness and education. He emphasised the importance of holistic healthcare and mass HPV vaccination programmes to fight the disease.
He also highlighted the need to increase access to HPV vaccinations, particularly for girls and women in rural and underserved areas, and to enhance screening programs to detect cervical cancer early when it is more treatable. “Build robust healthcare systems that can provide comprehensive care including prevention, detection, and treatment of cervical cancer, and educate communities about cervical cancer, its causes, symptoms, and prevention strategies,” he noted.
Over 30 African countries, including Ghana, have included HPV vaccination in their national immunisation programmes, Mr Ameyibor said, but stressed the need to move to the next stage: strong institutional advocacy to create awareness and provide support for regular screening and diagnosis.
He also challenged the remaining African countries to treat the issue with urgency and accelerate legal and policy reforms to ensure HPV vaccination is part of national immunisation systems. CDA CONSULT, in collaboration with partners, is undertaking a five-year advocacy project to create awareness about cervical cancer and promote holistic healthcare approaches.
As part of the five-year plan, CDA CONSULT has launched a comprehensive cervical cancer awareness programme across Ghana, conducting workshops in all 16 regional capitals and extending outreach to about 60 percent of district capitals.
Mr Ameyibor, a development communication advocate, said the organisation will also train health professionals on holistic healthcare approaches for prevention, detection, and treatment of cervical cancer, as well as media practitioners on sensitive health reporting to promote accurate and stigma-free coverage.
“Through active awareness advocacy, improving healthcare services, and encouraging sensitive media reporting, CDA CONSULT hopes to contribute significantly to eliminating cervical cancer in Ghana and beyond,” Mr Ameyibor stated.
He emphasised the importance of collective action, saying, “We must work together to eliminate cervical cancer in Africa. Governments, healthcare providers, and communities must prioritise this issue and take concrete steps to prevent, detect, and treat cervical cancer.”
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide, with Africa bearing a disproportionate burden. The World Health Organization reports that 70,000 cervical cancer deaths could be averted annually in Africa if efforts to eliminate the disease are intensified.
