As South Africa marks Women’s Month, the country is called to reflect not only on social progress, but on the structural health barriers that continue to threaten women’s lives, dignity, and economic participation. Among these, cervical cancer remains one of the nation’s most pressing public health challenges.
Ranking as the second most common cancer among South African women aged 15–44, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in this age group, claiming nearly 6,000 lives annually. More than 95% of cases are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). Yet, because effective tools—ranging from life-saving HPV vaccines to high-performance screening—are available, the disease is largely preventable and treatable if detected early.
Salomé Meyer, a director at the Cancer Alliance of South Africa, believes that: “Women’s Month is not only a time to celebrate women—it is a time to protect their health and their future. No woman should lose her life to a disease that is both preventable and treatable.”
A Matter of Justice and Equity
In a keynote address at a previous event on cervical cancer elimination, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi called cervical cancer “a matter of social justice and gender equality,” reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 90-70-90 targets:
- 90% of girls fully vaccinated by age 15
- 70% of women screened at least twice in their lifetime
- 90% of women with pre-cancer or cancer receiving appropriate treatment
The Department of Health’s expansion of the national school-based vaccination campaign to independent and private schools, alongside the adoption of single-dose guidelines, marks important progress. However, public health advocates stress that the true measure of success lies in implementation, equity, and reaching vulnerable groups.
“One woman dies from cervical cancer every 67 minutes in South Africa. These are not just statistics—they are mothers, daughters, sisters, colleagues, and friends. We cannot afford to delay action, says Meyer”.
Addressing the Co-Infection Burden
The burden of cervical cancer falls disproportionately on women living with HIV, who are six times more likely to develop the disease compared to the general population. With sub-Saharan Africa accounting for 85% of women living with both cervical cancer and HIV, prevention strategies must explicitly integrate with HIV care pathways.
Regional neighbours such as Botswana and Eswatini have demonstrated leadership by integrating higher-valency HPV vaccines and dedicated prevention tracks into their integrated clinical care guidelines, setting a benchmark for protecting women and girls living with HIV.
Bridging the Gap: The Voice of Civil Society
While policy frameworks and vaccination programs are vital, lived realities on the ground often reveal uneven rollouts, screening bottlenecks, and persistent vaccine hesitancy fuelled by misinformation and stigma.
Independent patient advocate Salomé Meyer emphasizes that civil society is a central partner in bridging the gap between policy and practice. Meyer notes that civil society drives community-level demand, builds trust, and reaches populations that formal systems often miss. However, she stresses that these organizations cannot carry the responsibility without dedicated resourcing:
“Civil society is not a supporting actor in cervical cancer elimination—we are a central partner. We are the bridge between policy and the women whose lives depend on it, says Salomé.”
A Shared Responsibility
Eliminating cervical cancer requires a multisectoral approach:
- Expanding Vaccination & Screening: Moving toward higher-valency vaccines that offer broader protection against high-risk cancer-causing types, while scaling up HPV DNA testing and self-sampling to bring screening closer to where women live and work.
- Private Sector Engagement: Corporate social investment must move beyond generic health funding to actively support community-led awareness, healthcare worker education, and patient navigation systems.
- Overcoming Hesitancy: Investing in sustained, community-led social and behaviour change communication to address fear, stigma, and low risk perception.
As Salomé Meyer notes: “Too many women are still being left behind because of where they live, what they earn, or the barriers they face in accessing healthcare. Eliminating cervical cancer requires equity, not just policy.”
As South Africa observes Women’s Month, the roadmap to elimination is clear. Grounded in political will, fuelled by strategic partnerships, and driven by community-led action, the goal is within reach—ensuring that no woman dies of a preventable disease.
Press Contact:
Tranica Ramsunder
BooST Communications – PR and Marketing.
