Dr. Catherine Nyongesa Hails Game-Changing Declaration of World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day
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By John Kariuki
The World Health Assembly has declared November 17th as World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, to be marked annually starting 2025. This powerful declaration signals an intensified global commitment to eliminate cervical cancer—one of the most preventable yet deadly diseases affecting women, particularly in developing nations.
Leading voices in the fight against cancer, including Kenya’s renowned oncologist and CEO of Texas Cancer Centre, Dr. Catherine Nyongesa, have welcomed the decision with enthusiasm. Known for her relentless advocacy for affordable, accessible cancer care, Dr. Nyongesa hailed the announcement as a transformative step in global health.
“This is not just a commemoration—it is a call to action,” she declared. “It signifies that the world is finally taking a unified stand against a disease that continues to claim hundreds of thousands of lives despite being preventable and treatable.”
The declaration follows a 2020 World Health Assembly resolution outlining a comprehensive global strategy to eradicate cervical cancer as a public health threat. This strategy centers on three pillars: widespread HPV vaccination, routine screening, and timely treatment—all requiring investment, awareness, and political will.
While applauding the global recognition, Dr. Nyongesa emphasized the urgent need for action in sub-Saharan Africa, where cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women.
“In Kenya and across the region, lives are still being lost due to limited access to screening, low vaccination coverage, and persistent stigma,” she said. “This day must go beyond awareness—it must catalyze policy reforms, increased funding, and widespread community education.”
Under Dr. Nyongesa’s leadership, Texas Cancer Centre has been at the forefront of Kenya’s fight against cancer, providing life-saving treatments and championing equity in healthcare. Her tireless efforts have demystified the disease and empowered patients, families, and communities to seek better care.
As the world prepares to mark the inaugural World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day in 2025, Dr. Nyongesa’s voice serves as a clarion call for action.
“With unwavering commitment, we can consign cervical cancer to the past,” she said. “This is our moment to act—to ensure no woman, no matter her location, is left behind.”
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