Publications

Cervical cancer is largely a preventable disease, but in Africa it is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women. There are 97,000 new cases and 56,000 women die from cervical cancer each year in the region. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in Eastern and Central Africa. Most women who die from cervical cancer, particularly in developing countries, are in the prime of their lives. They may be raising children, caring for their families and contributing to the social and economic lives of their towns and villages. A woman’s death is a personal tragedy and a sad and unnecessary loss to her family and her community, with enormous repercussions for the welfare of both. These deaths are unnecessary because there is compelling evidence that cervical cancer is one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer if it is detected early and managed effectively. The majority of these deaths can be prevented through universal access to comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control programs, which have the potential to reach all girls through human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and all women with screening and treatment for pre-cancer.