Korede Abdullah in Lagos
In Ivory Coast, self-testing for cervical cancer has empowered women to take charge of their health, with nearly 90% of screenings conducted through this method.
This approach allows for detection in a private and convenient way, which is especially critical given the alarming rise in cervical cancer cases in the country.
Cervical cancer is the leading cancer affecting women in Ivory Coast, with 2,360 new cases recorded in 2022 and a mortality rate of 62%.
According to the lead researcher and head of partnership development and multi-sectorial engagement at the National Cancer Control Programme (PNLca), Dr. Simon Boni, in Abidjan on Friday, “The main drivers of this high mortality rate are late diagnosis, limited access to treatment, the complexity of pre-therapeutic care pathways, and a general lack of awareness about the disease.”
However, cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination and can be effectively treated if detected early.
Chantale, a woman in her 40s who tested positive for HIV in 2016, chose self-testing and was diagnosed with cervical cancer. She recalls, “I was surprised – I had no symptoms. But the doctor told me the disease was not far advanced and that treatment would help me recover.”
Between 2021 and 2023, over 40,000 women were screened through the SUCCESS project across four health regions. Self-testing has increased confidence and comfort among women, while reducing cultural barriers to screening.
Dr. Boni explains, “Health providers often prefer to offer self-testing rather than performing the sample collection themselves, partly due to heavy workloads.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) continues to support Ivory Coast in developing strategies to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer, with a target of reaching 70% of eligible women by 2030.
