The high rate of cervical cancer in Africa depicts the major gaps in knowledge, awareness of the disease, and access to screening.

The World Health Organisation's African Regional Office vouched to continue accelerating action against cervical cancer and ensure the safety of women against the disease.

Cervical cancer is still prevalent among women in vulnerable communities.

In Namibia, cervical cancer remains among the top four among women.

About three thousand cases of cervical cancer were recorded between 2009 and 2019.

Between 2022 and 2023, the Health Ministry admitted over one thousand six hundred cervical cancer patients, of whom a hundred and twenty-seven died due to the severity of their condition.

According to the WHO's African Regional Director, Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, in 2020, over one hundred thousand women developed cervical cancer, and about seventy thousand of these women died.

This accounts for 21% of cervical cancer mortality globally.

Almost 99% of cervical cancer is linked to the human papilloma virus (HPV) transmitted during sex.

To tackle the burden, WHO launched the public health framework in 2021, aimed at accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem in Africa.

The framework contains concrete action to be taken to reach targets, such as ensuring that ninety percent of girls are fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age, seventy percent of women are screened using a high-performance test by 35 years of age, and 90% of women with pre-cancer are treated, among others.

January is cervical cancer awareness month meant to promote three key messages of this year's awareness campaign: be informed, get screened, and get vaccinated.

Cervical cancer awareness Moeti says it requires empowering women with knowledge—at school, by clinic staff, and from women who are living with the disease. 

Moeti urged all African countries to actively engage in awareness campaigns, promote screening, and encourage HPV vaccination among their young women.