Sierra Leone aims for a sharp decline in cervical cancer cases with the launch of a nationwide vaccination campaign targeting girls aged 11 to 18.
“Cervical cancer is preventable, yet it has claimed too many of our mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends,” said Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, Sierra Leone’s Deputy Minister of Health 2. Dr. Mustapha’s own grandmother died from the disease, which is the country’s most common cancer and its second deadliest, according to 2022 data.
“Every year, we diagnose about 500 women with cervical cancer, and more than 70% of them die. That fatality rate is unacceptable for us as a country,” she added.
The week-long vaccination campaign began on 17 November and aims to reach roughly one million girls. The initiative focuses on the human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer. A pilot program in 2013 laid the groundwork, and a Gavi-supported national roll-out began in 2022.
“Since then, we’ve become even better at delivering the vaccine,” Dr. Mustapha said. “The benefits of this vaccination will be seen in 10, 20, even 30 years, as we achieve a massive reduction in cervical cancer cases.”
President Julius Maada Bio has called for the elimination of cervical cancer, a disease that is 90% preventable through vaccination. To meet this goal, the government has stocked 1.3 million doses of the HPV vaccine. Vaccinating girls before they become sexually active maximizes protection, as the virus often leads to cancer decades later. A single dose in adolescence can nearly eliminate that risk.
Schools are hosting vaccination sessions nationwide. “The Ministry of Basic Education is ready to collaborate for a successful campaign,” said Abubakar Kuyateh, Director of Programs at the Ministry.
For women like 56-year-old Beatrice Kindawa, the vaccine came too late. “If this vaccine had been available when I was a child, it could have saved me,” she said. Currently undergoing treatment in Freetown, she urged young girls to get vaccinated early.
For older women, the Ministry of Health is expanding access to screening and treatment. “Early-stage cancers are easier to treat, so we’ve set up cancer survival treatment centers and 24 active screening sites across the country,” Dr. Mustapha said, noting that seven are in Freetown and the rest are distributed nationwide.
The campaign represents a major step in Sierra Leone’s fight against cervical cancer, offering hope for future generations.
Related topic：
