06/02/2026
On 4 February, World Cancer Day was celebrated under the theme “United by Unique: Every journey is different. Together, we are stronger.” To honour this day, the Department of Health hosted a Stakeholder Engagement Meeting on the Elimination of Cervical Cancer: A Strategic and Implementation Framework 2026–2030. This event served as a lead-up to the release of the new Cervical Cancer Strategic Implementation Framework, which will be launched in the coming months.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers in the world, yet it remains one of the leading causes of cancer deaths, with women living with HIV at a much higher risk of developing the disease. Speakers at the event emphasised the words of Lyn Denny, who is globally renowned for her work in cervical cancer, that “no woman should die from cervical cancer because she did not have access to screening.”
During his keynote address, the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, highlighted that significant progress has been made in the fight against cervical cancer: six million girls have been vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV) since 2014, and 88% of schools had been covered by 2024. To date, only girls in public schools have been vaccinated due to budget constraints, but roll-out will begin to private, independent and special schools. Two thousand clinics across the country are also offering DNA screening, representing a significant advancement in screening technology. However, the Minister noted that gaps remain: stigma and misinformation hamper parental consent for HPV testing; rural screening coverage stands at only 38.7%; treatment delays persist; radiotherapy is not available at all hospitals; and some women are lost in the health system. The new policy framework will seek to address these challenges.
Health Systems Trust Director: Health Systems Strengthening, Dr Bulelani Kuwane, along with Dr Sithembile Nqeketo from WHO South Africa, facilitated a group discussion on supporting the elimination of cervical cancer through an integrated approach to screening. This robust discussion focused on identifying solutions to barriers that affect the uptake of screening. Suggested solutions included better education for healthcare providers and patients; clearer instructions to patients on what happens after screening; linking HPV vaccination of girls to screening for mothers; routine implementation of self-sampling; strengthening mobile services and outreach to bring services closer to communities; integrating cervical cancer screening with HIV screening; and training Community Health Workers in cervical cancer screening. Dr Kuwane also highlighted that, in the digital age, digital registers have become essential tools.
The discussions underscored that eliminating cervical cancer requires coordinated action across prevention, screening, treatment and follow-up. With strengthened collaboration, improved access, and an integrated approach, South Africa is well positioned to accelerate progress towards the elimination of cervical cancer.
