Kenya government launches new HPV testing method to reduce cervical cancer cases

KENYA – The Kenya Ministry of Health is enhancing its fight against cervical cancer by offering improved and expanded Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing method across the country.

A large majority of cervical cancer (more than 95%) is due to the human papillomavirus (HPV).

Vaccination against HPV and screening and treatment of pre-cancer lesions is a cost-effective way to prevent cervical cancer, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The International agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) report shows that there were 5,236 new cases of cervical cancer in Kenya across women of all ages in 2020

In the same year, cervical cancer in Kenya registered 3,211 deaths having ranked first with the highest number of deaths followed by 3,107 breast cancer deaths yet both were highly preventable if detected early.

The rising number of cervical cancer cases is related to limited access to health services, lack of awareness, reluctance to undergo a pelvic exam and absence of screening and treatment programs.

The Ministry further confirmed that the HPV testing was effective in screening for cervical cancer following its pilot in six counties of Kilifi, Kajiado, Nakuru, Mombasa, Meru and Kitui with high incidences of cases and capacity to successfully run the tests in the country.

“A report on the HPV testing method, as the gold standard for cervical cancer screening, has recommended that it is scaling up across the country following a successful pilot program implemented across six counties over the past year,” noted the ministry.

Two years ago, Kenya launched the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine becoming the 16th country in Africa to introduce the vaccine into its routine immunization schedule.

According to health experts, the HPV vaccine has the potential to cut the burden of cervical cancer by 70 per cent.

The WHO strategy towards the elimination of Cancer by 2030 targets to have  90 per cent of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by 15 years of age,  70 per cent of women to be screened with a high-precision test between 35-45 years of age and 90% per cent of women identified with the cervical disease to receive treatment and care.

The government is encouraging women everywhere to get tested and vaccination can be done in any public health facility for free to all girls aged 10 years and below.

January is the Cervical Cancer awareness month and as it comes to an end, WHO and the health ministry are urging all women and girls aged 10 years and below to get vaccinated.

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