For South African women, cervical cancer isn’t just a statistic, it’s a harsh reality. It remains a leading cause of cancer related deaths among women, despite being one of the most preventable and treatable cancers when detected early and prevented through vaccination.
The lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer for South African women is 1 in 41, with our national incidence rate more than double the global average. This elevated risk is driven by several factors, including limited access to regular screening, late diagnosis, and the high burden of HIV. HIV increases vulnerability to HPV, the virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases because a weakened immune system makes it harder to clear HPV infections.
The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is central to prevention efforts. It is highly effective at protecting against the high risk HPV strains that cause most cervical cancers. The vaccine works best when administered before a young person becomes sexually active, which is why it is offered to girls aged 9 to 12. Providing protection early builds a strong defense long before exposure occurs.
For teenagers or adults who are already sexually active, the vaccine is still beneficial. HPV includes many viral strains, and even if exposure has occurred, the vaccine protects against other dangerous types. While it cannot cure existing infections, it remains the most effective tool we have to prevent future HPV related cancers.
Department of Health’s HPV Vaccination Drive – February Campaign
In February, the Department of Health is once again prioritising its national HPV vaccination campaign, urging parents, caregivers, and communities to support and consent to vaccination for eligible girls. This forms part of the broader national effort to strengthen cervical cancer prevention and reduce women’s long term cancer risk.
The campaign focuses on four pillars: prevention, HPV vaccination, effective treatment pathways, and targeted support for women living with HIV, who face a heightened risk of HPV related disease.
HPV vaccines prevent about 90% of cervical cancers and many other HPV related cancers. The vaccine is safe, effective, and widely recommended by the World Health Organisation, the National Department of Health, and global medical experts.
HPV is extremely common: most sexually active people will contract it at some point, often without knowing, as it can spread through intimate skin to skin contact. Certain strains cause nearly all cervical cancers. HPV also affects men, increasing the risk of less common cancers such as anal, throat, and penile cancer. Because these are not routinely screened for, early prevention becomes even more important.
Although condoms offer some protection, they cannot completely prevent HPV transmission because the virus can infect areas not covered during sexual contact. This is why broad vaccine uptake is critical: both males and females can transmit HPV, and widespread immunity reduces overall transmission.
National Cervical Cancer Awareness Strategy and School Based Vaccination
South Africa’s Cervical Cancer Awareness Strategy, set out in the National Strategic Plan for HIV, TB and STIs (2023–2028), places strong emphasis on school based HPV vaccination for preteen and teenage girls. HPV vaccines are offered free to Grade 5–7 girls aged 9 years and older at public, special, private, and independent schools under the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), jointly run by the Departments of Health and Basic Education since 2014.
The Department of Health is committed to normalising HPV vaccination as a routine, widely accepted health intervention, and aims to reach 90% coverage among eligible girls in support of the WHO’s global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
Provincial health departments are again conducting a February single dose HPV vaccination round in primary schools, with a focus on ensuring all eligible girls receive their vaccine and offering catch up opportunities for those who may have missed a previous round.
A Pathway to a Cervical Cancer Free Future
HPV vaccination is more than a clinical intervention; it is an act of empowerment. It allows young people to step into adulthood with stronger protection, fewer risks, and a better chance at long term health. The February vaccination drive offers families and communities a vital opportunity to participate in eliminating one of the country’s most preventable cancers.
Don’t wait. Speak to your healthcare provider, school, pharmacy, or local clinic about HPV vaccination today. Together, we can build a future where cervical cancer becomes a preventable past, not an inevitable threat.
This article was drafted by the AfroCentric Group in conjunction with Medscheme
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Author: AfroCentric Group from AfroCentric Group on behalf of Medscheme.
BBC News Africa: This is the BBC’s news service for Africa.
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