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Comprehensive Cervical Cancer Control in Kenya
Mr. John Mwangi
Reproductive Health Officer, Division of Reproductive Health
Ministry of Health, Kenya
Mr. John Mwangi spoke about the challenges for cervical cancer prevention in Kenya. Because of the
weak infrastructure, women do not have access to early detection and treatment. As a result, diagnosis
comes late, and the resulting long hospital stays put a stress on hospitals. The national reproductive
health strategy is to improve the information base by collecting data through cancer registries and to
improve access to early detection and management of cases.
Plans to provide integrated services for cervical cancer include the following:
• Strengthen reproductive health services at all levels to provide prevention, screening/early
diagnosis, and management.
• Strengthen oncology services at appropriate levels to meet the needs of prevention/early
diagnosis, including adoption of emerging technologies such as HPV vaccines.
• Develop and/or regularly review guideline and procedure manuals for early detection and
management.
Operational research is being carried out in Tigoni by the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta National
Hospital, and the International Centre for Reproductive Health at the University of Ghent. Other
research partners include the University of Washington and the Coptic Hospital Hope Center.
Recommendations for national priorities include the following:
• HPV vaccination
– Identifying barriers to vaccinations.
– Setting up a pilot program.
– Monitoring vaccine uptake, safety, and in-country efficacy data.
• Management of premalignant and malignant lesions
– Early detection with scale-up of screening.
– Diagnosis and treatment.
– Strengthen and expand referral centers for the management of invasive cervical cancer
(radiotherapy services).
Report of an African Regional Meeting on Cervical Cancer: September 2010 33