 The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning on Tuesday, revealing that at least 76,000 African women die annually from cervical cancer, many in the prime of their lives. This tragic loss is part of a broader health crisis on the continent, where nearly 660,000 new cancer cases and approximately 350,000 cancer-related deaths are reported each year, with cervical cancer accounting for a significant portion of these fatalities. The WHO's Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, and Dr. Daniel Dulitzky, Regional Director for Human Development at the World Bank’s Eastern and Southern Africa division, made the alarming revelations in a joint statement. The statement was issued during an event in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, underscoring the urgent need for a unified response to the escalating threat of cervical cancer.
Describing the situation as “unjust and unacceptable,” the WHO leaders emphasized that the tools and resources needed to address this crisis are already available. The WHO has outlined a global strategy aimed at eliminating cervical cancer through three key interventions: vaccination, screening, and treatment. The strategy sets clear targets to be achieved by 2030, in line with the WHO’s 90-70-90 goals. These include ensuring that 90% of girls are vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer, by age 15; that 70% of women are screened for cervical cancer with a high-performance test by age 35, and again by age 45; and that 90% of women identified with precancerous lesions or cervical disease receive appropriate treatment, including palliative care. With the right resources and political commitment, the elimination of cervical cancer in Africa remains an achievable goal. Source: NEWTELEGRAPH NG
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