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Next Steps
Dr. Jean-Marie Dangou
Medical Officer, Cancer
Division for Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Africa
In industrialized countries, expanded screening and treatment have dramatically reduced cervical cancer
rates over the last 60 years, while in sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 95 percent of women have
never been screened, the death rate from this disease continues to rise. Most of the cancers occur in
women at an age when their roles of nurturing families (including the provision of education and health
needs of children), contributing to economic activity, and ensuring cohesion in society are critical.
Participants at this Kampala conference called for urgent action to reduce the intolerably high burden of
cervical cancer in Africa and to save women’s lives. The call recognizes that a comprehensive strategy,
combining vaccination of girls with screening and treatment of adult women, will significantly reduce
the threat of cervical cancer. It acknowledges that action will be required to give women and girls in
Africa rapid access to such powerful new technologies as HPV vaccines and HPV DNA testing. All of this
will only be possible when there is strong commitment and action on the part of governments,
multilateral agencies, the international donor community and development partners, health
professionals, and civil society. Participants agreed on the following next steps:
• Share the report of the Uganda HPV vaccine demonstration project with all African countries and
partners involved in cervical cancer prevention and control in Africa.
• Scale up HPV vaccination demonstration and pilot projects with the support of all stakeholders. The
Uganda experience is very important for this effort.
• Set up national cervical cancer coordination committees with representatives from national cancer,
non-communicable disease control, sexual and reproductive health, immunization, child and
adolescent health, and sexually transmitted diseases programs, as well as from training institutions.
• Advocate for comprehensive cervical cancer prevention programs and plans, including treatment for
invasive cancer and palliative care.
• Mobilize and allocate appropriate resources for cervical cancer prevention.
• Develop plans for HPV vaccination introduction before donations arrive. Plans must be in place so
action can quickly follow.
• Build capacity for skilled personnel, infrastructure, and equipment for cervical cancer prevention at
all levels.
• Develop and implement monitoring and evaluation plans for cervical cancer prevention and control.
• Ensure a proactive approach on affordability of HPV vaccine by engaging regional economic
communities, international and regional health organizations, the pharmaceutical industry, and
other partners to negotiate and purchase HPV vaccines at the lowest price.
• Organize a regional consultation on training on cervical cancer surgical treatment.
Report of an African Regional Meeting on Cervical Cancer: September 2010 56