HPV vaccines and a future without cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract

Cervical cancer remains a global public health problem with the annual number of new cases and deaths projected to increase to 700000 and 400,000 in 2030, respectively. Unfortunately, about 85% of woman affected by cervical cancer are young, undereducated and live in the world’s poorest regions like sub-Saharan Africa including Nigeria. Although high income countries (HIC) have reduced morbidity and mortality from cervical cancer by about 80% using cytology (pap smears) for population-based screening cervices in the past 60 years, many low-middle-income-countries (LMIC) in sub-Saharan Africa have not been able to replicate it due to limited resources and challenges with the personnel, laboratory and logistics requirements, competing health needs and the appropriate political commitment. Addressing the barriers to achieving the 90:70:90 targets by 2030 will help the region towards a sustainable pathway to eliminate cervical cancer by 2120.