Cancer cases are on a rise in African and it claims the life of more people than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria together. Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Africa because of a lack of reproductive health information and unnecessary delays in treatment in rural areas.

David Kerr, President of the European Society of Medical Oncology, said that Africa requires a strategy for vaccination, screening, treatment and awareness of cancer. He further added that every strategy will take time to show its effect. Mr. Kerr had set up an Africa Oxford Cancer Foundation (AfrOx) in 2007, a charity that works with thousands of professionals worldwide to improve cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa.

Kyomugisha, Director of Save a Woman Initiative (Sawi), a group that aims to raise awareness about cervical cancer in Uganda, says that authorities must organize information sessions in churches, schools, universities and markets to raise awareness about cancer, especially among the women. He said that it’s important to encourage more women to undergo screening.

He said that few days ago, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (Gavi), announced that Merck has offered a 67% reduction in the current public price of their Gardasil vaccine, which is great news for the continent.