The Ministry of Health (MoH) has unveiled a five-year plan to vaccinate nearly all schoolgirls against the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) before they complete Form Four, in a renewed push to eliminate cervical cancer.
Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale launched the National Cervical Cancer Elimination Action Plan 2025–2030 on Thursday, outlining a roadmap that combines vaccination, screening, diagnosis, and treatment. The initiative is part of a broader Sh1.2 billion strategy aimed at drastically reducing cervical cancer cases nationwide.
According to Health Director General Dr. Patrick Amoth, KSh414.4 million will be required over the next five years to fund vaccination campaigns, with additional allocations directed to screening and treatment. He noted that 27 per cent of the interventions will be implemented by counties, 16 per cent by the national government, while 57 per cent will be shared between the two levels.
Each year, about 6,000 Kenyan women are diagnosed with cervical cancer, making it the second most common cancer among women after breast cancer. The HPV vaccine, which can prevent up to 90 per cent of cases, will be administered through schools, health centres, and local dispensaries.
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The plan aligns with the World Health Organisation’s global strategy to vaccinate 90 per cent of girls by age 15, screen 70 per cent of women using HPV testing, and ensure 90 per cent of those diagnosed with precancer or invasive cancer receive treatment by 2030.
Kenya introduced free HPV vaccination for girls aged 10 to 14 in 2019, but uptake has remained low. By 2023, 54.7 per cent of girls in the target age group had received at least one dose, while only 44.3 per cent had completed two doses. With new guidelines requiring just one dose for protection, officials hope coverage will improve.
Screening efforts have also lagged. In 2024, only 48 per cent of women targeted for screening were tested, with just six per cent undergoing HPV testing. Among those eligible for treatment, only 43 per cent received care. “These gaps reveal that Kenya’s journey toward cervical cancer elimination is still incomplete and requires focused interventions,” Dr. Amoth said.
The MoH says the new plan will close these gaps by strengthening health systems, improving transparency, and ensuring timely access to services. Proponents argue that consolidating resources and focusing on schools will accelerate progress, while critics caution that local challenges may affect implementation.
By Masaki Enock
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