Ramaphosa to lead cervical cancer elimination launch in Soweto

South Africa will on Friday launch a national programme aimed at eliminating cervical cancer, as the country battles thousands of new cases and deaths each year. President Cyril Ramaphosa will lead the official launch of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Programme at the Moletsane Sports Complex in Soweto, joined by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi. The initiative forms part of South Africa’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategic and Implementation Framework, 2026 TO 2030, which aims to reduce the disease as a public health threat significantly.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in the country. Health authorities estimate that about 5 700 cases are recorded annually, with around 3 000 deaths linked to the disease. Broader figures indicate that in 2022 alone, about 11 000 women were diagnosed and 6 000 died.

Globally, a woman dies from cervical cancer every two minutes. Motsoaledi, in a statement, said the disease is largely preventable through vaccination, screening and early treatment. “Each year, we spend millions of Rands to treat women suffering from cervical cancer.

[paywall]

This is a global disease that is the second biggest killer of women after breast cancer,” he said. Fortunately, unlike with breast cancer, there is a formula to eradicate it. The formula provides, among other actions, that 90% of girls between the ages of 9 to 15 year be vaccinated with HPV vaccine. This year, we are launching a huge campaign to eradicate this cancer.

[/paywall]