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IARC 60th Anniversary - 19-21 May 2026

Session : 20/05/26 - Posters

TRACKING CERVICAL CANCER ELIMINATION IN AFRICA THROUGH A REGIONAL CIVIL SOCIETY LED SCORECARD: KEY FINDINGS AND LESSONS LEARNED

KITHAKA B. 1,2, CHIGOVA T. 6, MWAKASUNGULA M. 5, MAYAAH E. 3, OGINGO J. 1, MWENDA V. 7, TORODE J. 1

1 KILELE Health Association, Nairobi, Kenya; 2 African Cervical Cancer Alliance (ACHA), Nairobi, Kenya; 3 Humanity at Heart International Association, Yaoundé, Cameroon; 4 LVCT Health, Nairobi, Kenya; 5 The Women's Coalition Against Cancer (WOCACA), Lilongwe, Malawi; 6 Thrive Reproductive and Maternal Health Foundation, Windhoek, Namibia; 7 Artemis Health Networks, Nairobi, Kenya

BACKGROUND
The WHO Global Strategy for Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a public health problem emphasizes key policy enablers, including policy initiatives, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and strengthening of Primary Healthcare. Cervical Cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in many African Countries, yet Africa lags behind in the implementation the WHO 90-70-90 Targets towards elimination. 

OBJECTIVES
The African Cervical Health Alliance (ACHA), through an initiative dubbed Advocacy to Support Policy Implementation Relevant to Elimination (ASPIRE), sought out to develop a regional scorecard to track progress and inform elimination initiatives in Africa. We present the process, preliminary findings and lessons from this initiative.

METHODS
The scorecard development commenced with the creation of a team comprising KILELE Health (the ACHA Secretariat), ACHA members in the Capacity Building Workgroup and a team of technical consultants. Global, regional  and national strategic documents were sourced and analyzed to identify key themes and indicators to capture in the scorecard. A preliminary list of indicators was created, discussed and revised through engagements with ACHA members and other stakeholders. Finally, thresholds and accountability mechanisms for the scorecard were defined.

RESULTS
A total of 27 indicators were identified and thematically grouped into primary prevention (HPV vaccination), secondary prevention (screening and precancer treatment) tertiary prevention (diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancer) and cross-cutting (policy frameworks, monitoring and evaluation and governance). Each indicator was categorized as per performance, and proposed interventions advised appropriately. Data sources for the indicators include global, regional, as well as national health bodies and civil society inputs. A traffic-light rating system is applied to signify progress: Green = good progress; Yellow = caution; Red = urgent action required.

CONCLUSIONS
The ACHA ASPIRE Cervical Health Scorecard has the potential of hastening progress towards elimination in Africa. The next steps include piloting in three countries (Kenya, MAlawi and Cameroon), and utilise this to finetune the tool through an iterative process, in order to concretise the ASPIRE Scorecard indicators and metrics This will be followed by the formation of a broad-based coalition to drive adoption and utilization of the scorecard initially across 12 countries in Africa, and over a period of time within all of WHO Afro regional member states. The tool will be used to track progress and inform strategic investments we advocate for an Africa free of cervical cancer. 
 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
KILELE Health Association (ACHA Secretariat) wishes to recognize the following for their continued partnership and support for the ACHA ASPIRE Scorecard.
FIND Diagnostics, Cancer Research UK (CRUK),
The ACHA Technical Working Group and
ACHA Member Organisations in 16 Countries.

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ACHA ASPIRE SCORECARD Prototype