Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has formally declared war on cervical cancer, launching an aggressive five-year "Elimination Action Plan" that aims to wipe out the disease as a public health threat in Kenya by 2030.

The strategy, unveiled during the National Symposium in Nairobi, is built on the World Health Organization’s ambitious "90-70-90" targets. It is a race against time for Kenyan women, with the disease currently claiming over 3,000 lives annually—deaths that Duale termed "unacceptable" because they are entirely preventable.

The 90-70-90 Strategy

The plan is statistically precise: vaccinate 90% of girls against HPV by age 15, screen 70% of women aged 35 and 45, and ensure 90% of those diagnosed receive treatment. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-9)To achieve this, the Ministry is executing a strategic pivot to a single-dose HPV vaccine schedule. "The evidence is clear," Duale argued. "One dose offers solid protection. This simplifies logistics and allows us to reach every girl in every village."

• Self-Sampling Revolution: In a bid to overcome cultural stigma and logistical barriers, the plan introduces HPV DNA self-sampling kits. This innovation allows women to collect their own samples in privacy, significantly boosting screening uptake in conservative regions.
• Cost of Inaction: The economic burden of cancer treatment is driving families into poverty. By focusing on prevention and early detection, the state aims to slash the catastrophic costs associated with late-stage chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

A Generational Promise

"We must be the generation that ends cervical cancer," Duale stated. The plan is fully costed and integrates digital health tools to track patients across the 47 counties. However, its success will depend on breaking the silence around reproductive health and ensuring the supply chain for vaccines remains unbroken.

This is not just a health policy; it is a battle for the survival of Kenyan mothers and daughters. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-11)The weapon is the vaccine, and the target is zero deaths.