Faith leaders across Africa have banded together to address the high burden of Cervical cancer with religious figures now taking a frontline role in promoting prevention and breaking stigma. According to The World Health Organization (WHO), 19 of the 20 countries with the highest cervical cancer incidence and mortality rates are in sub-Saharan Africa.
At the Faith in Action Health Conference held this week in Nairobi, senior Catholic bishops, Muslim scholars, Hindu and Protestant leaders, Seventh-day Adventist representatives gathered to discuss how faith communities could help combat the disease, the event held by the Africa Health and Economic Transformation Initiative (AHETI) focused on leveraging religious influence to boost HPV vaccination uptake and challenge stigma surrounding cervical cancer survivors.
Speaking at the event Most Rev.Philip Anyolo, Archbishop of Nairobi and the conference’s chief guest noted that faith when properly channeled can be used to bring hope to those battling cervical cancer.
“As shepherds of our communities, we must not only preach about dignity and life—we must protect it. This moment demands more than prayer; it demands action.”
Echoing his sentiments Fr. Charles Chilufya, vowed to play his part in the health transformation through community-based interventions like urging Women to get early cervical cancer screening and HPV vaccinations.
“Religious leaders have the trust of millions. That trust must now be used to save lives, we are moving from pulpits to public health campaigns.” He said.
According to Pew Research done in 2022 over 90 per cent of Africa’s population identifies with a faith tradition making faith leaders are uniquely positioned to influence community attitudes.
Benda Kithaka, Executive Director and Founder of KILELE Health Association-a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer prevention and advocacy, called on faith leaders to help dismantle stigma around cervical cancer and Human Papillomavirus (HPV), She urged for more compassion towards those battling the disease calling for religious leaders to have a more honest, compassionate, and evidence-based approach to sexual health conversations in faith communities.
“It’s often assumed that if a woman is diagnosed with cervical cancer then it means she has been going around with many partners. But HPV is a virus that can stay in the body for years. Even if a woman has had just one previous partner, she can still carry the virus into a new relationship,” Kithaka explained.
“Likewise, if a man has had multiple partners and carries HPV 16 or 18, even if he is faithful in his marriage, he may unknowingly pass it on. So before condemning people for so-called promiscuity, we must understand this is a societal issue, not an individual failing.”
Calling for a more informed stance from his colleagues said Dr. Hussein Iman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), warned on the dangers of spreading misinformation and how this can fuel stigma, “we have seen the harm that myths and stigma can cause faith leaders must be part of the solution—championing awareness, acceptance, and access.”
To reflect their commitment through action, AHETI will host a ‘Faith in Action Medical Camp’ on May 16–17, 2025 at St. Francis Community Hospital in Kasarani, where they hope to reach over 1,000 underserved Nairobi residents. The medical camp will offer free cervical cancer screenings and medical consultations as well as health education.
