Urgent Call to Action Against Cervical Cancer
Health advocates from Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA Consult) are calling for urgent nationwide action to combat cervical cancer in Ghana. The appeal highlights the urgent need to scale up prevention efforts, especially in lower-income communities where access to screening, vaccination, and treatment remains limited. As Ghana advances toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) for 2030, activists say cervical cancer prevention must take a front seat in the national health agenda.
Why Cervical Cancer Remains a Threat
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Ghana. Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the primary cause, but effective vaccines and screening programs can dramatically reduce incidence and mortality. The challenge is ensuring these tools reach everyone, including women in rural areas, informal settlements, and low-income households who face financial and logistical barriers to care.
Key Strategies for Accelerated Prevention
Advocates emphasize a multi-pronged approach to accelerate prevention across the country:
- HPV vaccination: Expand school-based and community outreach vaccination campaigns to cover preteen girls and catch-up cohorts. Ensure vaccines are affordable and sustainably funded by the government and partners.
- Screening programs: Implement accessible, affordable screening, such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and HPV DNA testing, with follow-up treatment services readily available.
- Public awareness: Launch culturally sensitive education campaigns to raise awareness of cervical cancer risks, symptoms, and the benefits of early detection.
- Health system strengthening: Improve data systems for monitoring vaccination and screening coverage, and integrate cervical cancer services into primary health care to reduce out-of-pocket costs for women.
- Access to treatment: Expand treatment facilities and ensure timely referral pathways for women who screen positive or are diagnosed with cancer.
Aligning with SDG 3 and National Health Priorities
Achieving SDG 3 by 2030 means reducing premature mortality from non-communicable diseases and ensuring universal health coverage. Cervical cancer prevention directly contributes to these goals by decreasing deaths, improving women’s health, and strengthening communities’ resilience. CDA Consult argues that prevention is not a luxury but a cost-effective public health investment, yielding long-term social and economic benefits as healthier women contribute more fully to families and the workforce.
What Stakeholders Can Do Now
To turn the tide against cervical cancer, CDA Consult outlines actionable steps for government ministries, international partners, and civil society:
- Commit to a national cervical cancer plan with funding for HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.
- Leverage schools and community networks to deliver vaccines and information, targeting underserved regions.
- Ensure data-driven decision-making through robust surveillance of vaccination and screening coverage.
- Remove financial and logistical barriers by providing free or subsidized services at public health facilities.
- Measure progress with clear indicators aligned to SDG 3 and national health objectives.
A Call for a Collaborative, Sustained Effort
Experts stress that successful cervical cancer prevention requires collaboration among policymakers, health professionals, educators, and community leaders. By coordinating resources and expanding access to vaccines and screenings, Ghana can reduce the burden of cervical cancer and move closer to achieving SDG 3 by 2030. The CDA Consult call to action is a reminder that preventive health is a shared responsibility and a pathway to healthier, more equitable communities.
