Kenya Launches National Action Plan for Cervical Cancer Elimination by 2030
Furthermore, service charters will be made mandatory in both public and private health facilities to affirm transparency, restrain overcharging, and safeguard patients’ rights.
The launch marks a pivotal moment in Kenya’s health sector, signalling renewed commitment to safeguarding women’s health and accelerating the elimination of cervical cancer in the country. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
Kenya has in place the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2026-2030 to further entrench her commitments towards the African continent’s agenda for women’s health concerning the prevention, reduction, and eventual eradication of cervical cancer as a public health threat. Cervical cancer remains one of the leading cancer killers of women in Kenya.
Health Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aden Duale launched the Action Plan during the two-day National Symposium in observance of Kenya Cancer Awareness Month. The symposium-themed *‘Accelerating Cervical Cancer Elimination: Strong Systems and Community Action for Every Girl and Every Woman’*-sought to bring together women leaders, health professionals, policymakers, development partners, and civil society organizations to assess the progress made so far and the strategies necessary to strengthen prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment services.
Action Plan Collaborating Toward Prevention, Screening, and Treatment
The newly launched plan is costed, oriented towards outcome delivery, and aligned with the WHO global strategy of cervical cancer elimination. It is based on the internationally recognized 90–70–90 targets: vaccinating 90% of the eligible girls against HPV, having 70% of the women screened for cervical cancer, of the diagnosed case, treating 90% in time and appropriately.
Priority action areas include scaling up HPV vaccination, expanding access to early and equitable screening services, treating all detected cases promptly, and strengthening long-term follow-up and survivorship care. The plan also gives priority to reducing inequities by accessing women living in disadvantaged and hard-to-reach areas in all areas of the country.
Policy Reforms and System Strengthening
During his keynote address, CS Duale presented the major policy and programmatic reforms that have been designed to accelerate elimination. These include Kenya’s shift to a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule, the expanded use of HPV DNA testing, and the introduction of self-sampling methods to improve screening uptake among women facing barriers in accessing health facilities.
He further emphasized the promotion of digital health innovations to ensure countrywide outreach so that women in all 47 counties can access screening and follow-up care. In view of supporting the effective delivery of services, the government is investing in a stronger referral system, expanding the treatment infrastructure for cancer, and training a skilled workforce.
CS Duale also announced the reforms to be undertaken as part of the Social Health Authority focusing on improving health financing to ensure access, affordability, and equity in cancer care. Furthermore, service charters will be made mandatory in both public and private health facilities to affirm transparency, restrain overcharging, and safeguard patients’ rights.
Testimonies from cervical cancer survivors at the symposium were deeply moving and showed the potency of the disease, thus further cementing the national resolve against avoidable deaths. Senior health officials present included Principal Secretary of Public Health and Professional Standards Mary Muthoni, CEO National Cancer Institute of Kenya Elias Melly, Director Family Health Issak Bashir, and Head Cancer Division Gladwell Gathecha.
The Action Plan’s launch is a great milestone in Kenya’s health sector and is a clear manifestation of the renewed commitment towards the protection of women and girls and the execution of plans to fast-track the elimination of cervical cancer in Kenya.
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