Secondary school girls in Kinshasa recently participated in a walk against cervical cancer, chanting “No to Cervical Cancer!” as they moved along Boulevard du 30 juin. Some of the participants were winners of a flyer contest on cervical cancer awareness, sponsored by the Gates Foundation, and received one year’s tuition as their prize.
The event highlighted growing interest among young women in learning how to access vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), which is linked to cervical cancer later in life.
In November 2024, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) hosted a National Forum for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer in Kinshasa. The forum brought together multiple stakeholders and led to a revised national strategy for combating cervical and breast cancers from 2024 to 2029. The strategy was signed and validated by both the WHO Regional Director for Africa and the DRC Minister of Health. A key component is rolling out HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14.
The World Bank supports countries like the DRC in fighting HPV and moving toward eliminating cervical cancer. Through its ongoing Health Emergency Preparedness Response and Resilience Project, the DRC government plans to build on previous investments in laboratories and introduce cervical cancer screening in several provinces, including Tshopo, Haut-Katanga, Kwilu, Kongo Central, and Kinshasa.
Each year an estimated 7,700 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the DRC, with more than 70% dying from this preventable disease. Many deaths are due to limited screening and treatment options.
Based on recommendations from the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), starting in 2026 all girls aged 9 to 14 will be offered a single dose of Gardasil vaccine. This quadrivalent vaccine protects against four types of HPV—6, 11, 16, and 18—which cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases.
The Gates Foundation has provided funding that enabled policy dialogue on introducing the HPV vaccine. This support helped organize multisectoral meetings involving various ministries—Public Health, Prevention and Social Protection, National Education, Gender, Youth—and the National Committee for Universal Health Coverage. These discussions focused on vaccine rollout plans and integrating screening and treatment into health services.
Additionally, with backing from the Gates Foundation, a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Study was conducted by the World Bank, WHO, and University of Lubumbashi among young girls and parents in Kinshasa and Haut-Katanga provinces. The study aimed to understand perceptions about HPV vaccination and cervical cancer.
Findings showed that one-third of survey respondents did not feel vaccination was necessary; this sentiment was more common among older girls (aged 17–20) than among parents of younger girls. Girls often cited lack of concern or information about developing cervical cancer as reasons for hesitancy; parents pointed to challenges accessing vaccines at health facilities. Fewer than one in ten participants had ever been screened for cervical cancer.
One participant said: “The best way to protect our children from this disease in their lives is to have them vaccinated against it, if the vaccine exists, because we know that vaccines protect people and prevent the onset of several diseases, but I don't know if this vaccine already exists in our community.”
According to those involved with the study’s design: “This KAP study provides valuable insights as the government tries to broaden access to the HPV vaccine next year, and to cervical cancer screening. Understanding hesitancy is key to reaching more girls and women.”
In June 2025 delegates from Eastern and Southern Africa visited Zanzibar as part of efforts to learn from its approach known as the HPV Plus Model—a program that integrates adolescent health services such as sexual education alongside vaccination efforts. Since its introduction in Zanzibar schools during 2023–24—with collaboration between health authorities and community leaders—the model increased HPV vaccine coverage dramatically from just over one-tenth up to more than four-fifths within a year.