Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide for both incidence and mortality, and approximately 90% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

Cervical cancer is largely a preventable disease; primary prevention and control strategies including human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination and early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions have contributed to the reduction in disease and mortality burden in many high-income settings with strong health and social systems. Cervical cancer mortality has thus become one indicator for functioning and equity of a health care system and has been considered a “a disease of the poor”.

Malawi has the second-highest mortality related to cervical cancer (after Eswatini), with 67,9 deaths/100,000/year (4,145 new cervical cancer cases diagnosed in 2020). With 2,905 deaths due to cervical cancer in 2020, the country also had the second-highest rate of mortality (51.5/ 100.000/year). In the world, there was 604,127 new cases (13.3/100.000/year) and 341,831 deaths (7.3/ 100.000 /year) in 2020.

Since 2018, MSF is developing a comprehensive cervical cancer program in Malawi with the ambition of improving the access to screening, early diagnosis, and treatment encountered in low- and middle-income countries.
The program aims to develop new approaches and targets all stages of the cervical cancer disease course. Different spectrums of activities are organized with HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccination, health promotion, screening, and treatment of precancerous lesions (thermocoagulation), histopathology, supportive care activities, treatment (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy), and palliative care.
External activities are also expanding with a program dedicated to the decentralization of the care to district hospital level, and the support of preventive activities at health center level.

To contribute to the reduction of cervical cancer mortality and morbidity among women in Blantyre and Chiradzulu district, MSF accompany its medical care with advocacy efforts in order to increase the access to HPV vaccination and to radiotherapy in the country.