For South African women, cervical cancer isn’t just a statistic – it’s a harsh reality. It is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among South African women. Yet, this cancer is preventable and treatable through the actions we can take today.
September is Cervical Cancer Awareness month in South Africa to spotlight this significant health issue. As the second most diagnosed cancer among South African women, increasing awareness and access to effective prevention methods is crucial for saving lives.
The lifetime risk of developing cervical cancer for South African women is 1 in 41. Our incidence rate is more than double the global average. This extremely high incidence rate is driven by a combination of biological, social and systemic factors. Limited access to regular screening and early detection can lead to late diagnosis, often when the disease is already advanced.
The high burden of HIV in our population also plays a role as HIV increases susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV) – the virus responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases. HIV weakens the immune system, making it harder to clear HPV infections, which are the primary cause of cervical cancer.
HPV vaccination is about more than disease prevention; it’s about empowerment – giving young people the freedom to grow into adulthood with stronger health and fewer risks.
HPV vaccination can help prevent cervical cancer
Cervical cancer is one of the few preventable cancers, and the HPV vaccine is our most vigorous defence. The vaccine is highly effective in preventing cervical cancer by protecting against the high-risk strains of HPV that cause most cases of the disease. Administered most effectively to young people before engaging in any sexual activity, the vaccine works by preventing infection from cancer-causing HPV types, thus reducing the risk of abnormal cell changes and the development of cervical cancer later in life.
It’s most effective before virus exposure, and since we cannot always know a partner’s past, vaccination is about taking charge of your health, regardless of anyone else’s history. That’s why it’s offered to children aged 9 to 12 – long before they encounter HPV. Think of it as building a strong wall of protection before any threat arrives.
If a teenager – or adult – is already sexually active, the vaccine is still worth it. HPV is not just one virus, but a family of many. Even if someone has been exposed to one strain, the vaccine protects against others, including the most dangerous types. It is not a cure, but it remains the best protection available.
Department of Health’s HPV vaccination drive
Against this backdrop, the Department of Health’s national Cervical Cancer Awareness campaign urges parents, caregivers, and communities to prioritise awareness and life-saving screening and prevention strategies for women and girls. The effort focuses on four pillars: prevention, early HPV vaccination, effective treatment, and the heightened risk for women living with HIV.
The most reliable way to reduce the risk of HPV infection is vaccination. HPV vaccines prevent about 90% of cervical and most other HPV-associated cancers. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective and that’s why the World Health Organization (WHO), Department of Health and global medical experts recommend it for girls – and boys too, if possible.
Most sexually active people will contract HPV at some point, often without symptoms. All strains are spread through intimate skin-to-skin contact, with certain types causing nearly all cervical cancers. HPV is not only a risk to women but also to men as the dangerous HPV strains can result in cancers in men, although these are less common. As these cancers are not routinely screened for, they can be discovered too late for effective treatment.
Condoms lower but do not eliminate HPV risk, as the virus can infect uncovered areas during intimate contact. Achieving widespread immunity is important since both males and females can transmit and develop HPV-related diseases.
National Cervical Cancer Awareness Strategy encourages HPV vaccinations
The Cervical Cancer Awareness strategy, outlined in the National Strategic Plan (NSP) for HIV, TB and STIs (2023 – 2028), emphasises school vaccination drives for preteens and teenage girls. HPV single-dose vaccinations are offered free for girls with parental or guardian consent in Grades 5 to 7 at public, special, private, and independent schools. This is part of the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP), jointly implemented by the South African Departments of Basic Education and Health since 2014.
The Department of Health is committed to educational campaigns to ‘normalise’ HPV vaccination, making it a part of the school curriculum, encouraging acceptance and participation from students and parents. South Africa aims for 90% coverage among eligible girls as part of the WHO global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030.
In Gauteng and the Western Cape, provincial health departments are conducting a single dose HPV vaccination drive targeting grade 5, 6 and 7 girls aged 9 years and above, at public primary and special schools. The first round took place between February and 31 March 2025 in public schools and private primary schools are being visited now. This second round also gives a second chance to learners between 9–15 years from public schools who might have missed their dose earlier.
Don’t wait: speak to your healthcare provider about HPV vaccination today. Together, we can create a future where cervical cancer becomes a preventable past, not an inevitable threat.
