The Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) and Sabin Vaccine Institute, on behalf of the Global HPV Consortium, have entered into a three-year agreement to advance action towards HPV prevention and cervical cancer elimination on the African continent. This was an agreement as a result of the decision of the highest decision-making organ of the OAFLAD which is the 28th OAFLAD General Assembly.
“The First Ladies of Africa have spent decades using their unique position to advocate for the health and well-being of children, youth and women in Africa,” says Anuradha Gupta, president of global immunization at Sabin. “We are delighted to be partnering with them on cervical cancer education, advocacy and planning that will bring significant change to this highly impacted region.”
In sub-Saharan Africa, cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death among women. Among the 20 countries in the world with the highest burden of cervical cancer, 18 are in the WHO African region. In 2022, the region accounted for 23% of global cervical cancer mortality.
“Through unified advocacy and the leadership of our First Ladies, we have unlocked countless opportunities, transforming the lives of women and children in Africa,” says OAFLAD President and First Lady of Namibia, H.E. Sustjie Mbumba. “As we address the serious burden of cervical cancer in our countries, we look forward to learning from the expertise and shared resources of the Global HPV Consortium.”
Sabin serves as Secretariat for the Global HPV Consortium, which leads a global coalition to accelerate the fight against the human papillomavirus and cervical cancer. The Consortium launched last September, has more than doubled in size and has generated overwhelming support from partners and countries.
The agreement incorporates OAFLAD in the Consortium’s global efforts to eliminate cervical cancer by building and creating collaborations across silos and within countries and regions. Specific goals of the three-year commitment include:
- An assessment survey of the First Ladies’ priorities to determine interest and readiness for the partnership to initiate and advance cervical cancer elimination actions in each country.
- Developing annual plans of action for the calendar year around the three pillars of cervical cancer elimination: vaccination, screening and treatment of precancerous lesions
- Including the Consortium in OAFLAD’s Health Working Group
- Fostering collaboration among Consortium partners and agencies and institutions working in diverse areas e.g. immunization, cancer control, non-communicable diseases, HIV, adolescent health, gender equity and reproductive health to support OAFLAD initiatives
About the Sabin Vaccine Institute
The Sabin Vaccine Institute is a leading advocate for expanding vaccine access and uptake globally, advancing vaccine research and development, and amplifying vaccine knowledge and innovation. Unlocking the potential of vaccines through partnership, Sabin has built a robust ecosystem of funders, innovators, implementers, practitioners, policymakers and public stakeholders to advance its vision of a future free from preventable diseases. As a non-profit with three decades of experience, Sabin is committed to finding solutions that last and extending the full benefits of vaccines to all people, regardless of who they are or where they live. At Sabin, we believe in the power of vaccines to change the world. For more information, visit www.sabin.org and follow us on X, @SabinVaccine.
About the Organization of African First Ladies for Development
Founded in 2002, as the Organization of African First Ladies against HIV/AIDS (OAFLA), the institution evolved into the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) and is an institution that is able to offer a continent-wide leadership in terms of advocacy in the areas of HIV and a broad range of maternal and child health intervention. As an advocacy organization, the First Ladies of Africa seek to leverage their unique position to advocate for policies that make health services accessible and laws that boost women and youth empowerment. The First Ladies of Africa reinforce favorable policies and programs through advocacy, resource mobilization and development of partnerships with all stakeholders at all levels. The First Ladies engage in various community-level activities to sensitize the community and create awareness on health risks and policies. For more information, visit www.oaflad.org and follow @OAFLAD on X, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
About the Global HPV Consortium
Launched in 2023, the Consortium is a collective of global partners seeking to accelerate the global effort to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030. The Global HPV Consortium (GHC) a unique and independent transdisciplinary movement to prevent HPV infection and eliminate cervical cancer as a public health concern by operating across the three pillars of vaccination, screening, and early treatment. The Sabin Vaccine Institute serves as the secretariat for the GHC, which is committed to sustaining engagement across all levels of governance and implementation (global, regional, national, sub-national, and local), ensuring that community-level stakeholders have a seat at the table so that those closest to the problem are part of the solution.
