BY the year 2030, cervical cancer will kill more than 443,000 women yearly worldwide, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. The 8th African Vaccination Week will be celebrated from April 23 to 29, 2018. Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer death among women in Africa.

According to the Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy, by the year 2030, cervical cancer will kill more than 443,000 women yearly worldwide, most of them in sub-Saharan Africa. According to the Human papillomavirus, HPV, Center, 2017, cervical cancer ranks as the most frequent cancer in women in Malawi, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe and the second most frequent cancer in women in South Africa.

The increase in the incidence of cervical cancer in Africa could counteract the progress made by African women in reducing maternal mortality and longevity.

Nevertheless, cervical cancer is a potentially preventable non-communicable disease, and intervention strategies to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health concern should be urgently implemented.

Greta Dreyer, head of the Gynaecological Oncology Unit at the University of Pretoria and Karin Richter, Pathologist (Medical Virology) at Lancet Laboratories (South Africa), will host an online press conference on April 26, 2018 at 11am South Africa Time (Time Converter: https://goo.gl/tEV7tp).

Journalists interested in participating in the online press conference will be able to ask questions live via internet.

– Apr. 18, 2018 @ 14:55 GMT

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