In a defining moment for women’s health, the Ministry of Health has officially declared war on cervical cancer, launching an ambitious roadmap to eliminate the disease as a public health problem by the next century.

The "National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2026–2030," unveiled by Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, is not just a policy document; it is a lifeline for the thousands of Kenyan women who die annually from a preventable disease. With 5,845 new cases and 3,600 deaths recorded every year, the stakes could not be higher. The government has committed to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) "90-70-90" targets, a strategy aimed at saving nearly 2 million lives by 2120.

The 90-70-90 Strategy

The plan focuses on three critical pillars to be achieved by 2030, supported by an initial investment of KES 11.6 billion (USD 89.8 million) over the next decade. The Ministry argues that this upfront cost is negligible compared to the KES 24,000 return on investment for every dollar spent, realized through a healthier, more productive workforce.

• 90% Vaccination: Fully vaccinating 90% of girls by age 15 against Human Papillomavirus (HPV). To achieve this, Kenya transitioned to a single-dose vaccine schedule in November 2025, simplifying logistics and expanding reach.
• 70% Screening: Ensuring 70% of women are screened with high-performance tests by ages 35 and 45. New self-sampling kits and HPV DNA testing are being rolled out to overcome cultural barriers and discomfort.
• 90% Treatment: Guaranteeing that 90% of women identified with pre-cancer or invasive cancer receive adequate treatment and care, bridging the gap between diagnosis and survival.

"Strong Systems, Community Action"

"We are shifting from a reactive system to a proactive one," CS Duale stated during the launch in Nairobi. "Cervical cancer strikes women in their prime, robbing families of mothers and the economy of its workforce. By integrating screening into routine primary healthcare, we are ensuring that no woman is left behind."

The plan also addresses the glaring disparities in access to care. Currently, radiotherapy and specialized oncology services are concentrated in Nairobi, forcing patients from rural counties to travel long distances at great cost. The new strategy emphasizes decentralization, empowering Community Health Promoters (CHPs) to lead awareness campaigns and equipping county referral hospitals with cryotherapy and thermal ablation devices for immediate treatment of pre-cancerous lesions.

As the Ministry rolls out this aggressive campaign, the message is clear: cervical cancer is curable if caught early, and preventable if vaccinated against. The era of women dying from ignorance or lack of access is officially over.