The Principal Secretary for Public Health and Professional Standards, Ms Mary Muthoni, has urged women across the country to turn up for cervical cancer screening during this month of January, warning that late detection continues to drive preventable deaths.
Ms Muthoni said Cervical Cancer remains one of the most serious public health threats facing women in Kenya ranking as the second most common cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
According to GLOBOCAN 2022 estimates, the PS noted, the country records approximately 5,845 new cases of cervical cancer and 3,591 deaths every year.
“These numbers are a reminder that cervical cancer is still taking too many lives, yet it is one of the most preventable cancers,” said PS Muthoni.
“This January, I strongly encourage all eligible women to go for screening. Early detection can mean the difference between life and death.” said the PS.
Health officials attribute the high mortality to low screening uptake, late presentation of disease, and unequal access to services. Many women are diagnosed at advanced stages, when treatment options are limited and outcomes are poorer. Limited awareness, stigma, social and cultural barriers, weak referral pathways, and uneven distribution of diagnostic and treatment services continue to hinder progress.
Cervical cancer is caused mainly by persistent infection with high-risk strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). Prevention is therefore highly effective through HPV vaccination, regular screening, and early treatment of pre-cancerous lesions. In Kenya, HPV vaccination targets girls aged 10–14 years, while cervical cancer screening is recommended for women aged 25–49 years, with provisions for older women based on clinical guidance and individual risk factors.
“Screening is especially important because early cervical disease often has no symptoms,” PS Muthoni noted. “Women should not wait to feel unwell. Routine screening allows health workers to detect and treat pre-cancerous changes before cancer develops.”
Kenya’s cervical cancer response is aligned with the World Health Organization Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination, which sets the 90–70–90 targets to be achieved by 2030. These include vaccinating 90 per cent of girls against HPV by age 15, screening 70 per cent of women by ages 35 and 45, and ensuring 90 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical disease receive appropriate treatment and care.
Nationally, prevention and control efforts are guided by the National Cancer Control Strategy (2023–2027), which prioritises expansion of HPV vaccination, scale-up of screening services, strengthened referral systems, and improved access to early treatment. Since 2019, January has been commemorated as National Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, coordinated by the Ministry of Health through the National Technical Working Group for Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.
“Awareness months are not just about messaging; they are about action,” PS Muthoni said. “When women come forward for screening and parents ensure girls receive the HPV vaccine, we significantly reduce future cases and deaths.”
She called on women to visit public and accredited health facilities offering cervical cancer screening throughout the month, and urged families and communities to support women to access these services.
“Eliminating cervical cancer in Kenya is achievable,” PS Muthoni said. “By using this month to increase screening and prevention, we can save lives and protect the health of women and girls.”
