Global Milestone, Local Imperative

A landmark global health campaign has successfully protected an estimated 86 million girls in lower-income countries against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and averted more than one million future deaths from cervical cancer. The announcement was made by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, on Monday, 17th November 2025 (EAT), to mark the first official World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, a date designated by the World Health Assembly.

This achievement stems from a major revitalisation of Gavi's HPV vaccine programme, which began in 2023 with the ambitious goal to reach 86 million girls by the end of 2025—a target now met ahead of schedule. According to Dr. Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the success underscores the power of collaborative efforts in tackling what she described as a "devastating and largely preventable" disease that claims a woman's life every two minutes globally.

The Kenyan Context: A Heavy Burden

The global success has critical relevance for Kenya, which bears one of the region's heaviest cervical cancer burdens. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and Kenya's Ministry of Health, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Kenyan women and the leading cause of cancer deaths in the country. Data from 2023 indicates that 5,845 new cases are diagnosed annually, resulting in 3,591 deaths. This translates to approximately nine women dying from the preventable disease every day.

The situation is mirrored across East Africa, which has some of the highest cervical cancer rates in the world, often linked to fragile healthcare systems and limited access to preventative care. Cervical cancer accounts for up to 40% of all cancers diagnosed in women in the region, with five-year survival rates as low as 36%, far below those in higher-income nations.

Kenya's National Vaccination Drive

In response to this public health crisis, Kenya's Ministry of Health, with support from Gavi and other partners, officially launched its national HPV vaccination programme in October 2019. The programme initially targeted 10-year-old girls with a two-dose regimen. While the programme faced challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, it has made significant strides.

Recognising the difficulties in ensuring completion of the two-dose schedule, Kenya announced a strategic shift to a single-dose HPV vaccine regimen on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025 (EAT). This decision, supported by local research and WHO recommendations, aims to improve coverage, simplify logistics, and accelerate progress towards the global elimination targets. The WHO's global strategy calls for 90% of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, a key pillar in the effort to eliminate the disease.

A Preventable Disease

Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with high-risk types of HPV, a common virus transmitted through sexual contact. Over 95% of cervical cancer cases are linked to HPV, making it almost entirely preventable through effective vaccination. Clinical studies and real-world data have shown HPV vaccines to be highly effective, preventing up to 90% of cervical cancer cases and demonstrating nearly 100% efficacy against HPV vaccine-type infections and pre-cancerous lesions.

The vast majority of the global burden falls on lower-income countries, which accounted for 90% of the 350,000 cervical cancer deaths recorded in 2022, largely due to a lack of access to vaccination, screening, and treatment services. Gavi's revitalised programme has dramatically improved access, with HPV vaccine coverage in Africa rising from just 4% in 2014 to 44% by the end of 2024, surpassing coverage rates in Europe. This concerted effort is not only saving lives but is also projected to generate significant economic benefits for participating countries.