Every year, thousands of women in Senegal develop cervical cancer, and approximately 1,300 die from it. Most of these deaths could be prevented through HPV vaccination and early detection. Our project aims to improve access to both vaccination and screening, thereby reducing the number of cases and deaths in the long term.
Cervical cancer is preventable: HPV vaccination offers effective protection for girls and women. Although the vaccine is available in Senegal, around 1,400 women are still diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. This is largely due to limited access to preventive healthcare services, especially in rural and peri-urban areas, where information about cervical cancer and its risks is often scarce.
Social, cultural, and language-related barriers further complicate access to healthcare. Taboos around sexual and reproductive health, previous negative experiences with health institutions, and the lack of accessible services for women with disabilities or low literacy levels all contribute to stark inequalities in prevention, early detection, and treatment.
This is where our project comes in. It seeks to reduce these inequalities and make life-saving information and care available to all women. Mobile clinics offer HPV vaccinations for girls aged 9 to 18, VIA and HPV screenings for women aged 25 to 65, and, when necessary, immediate thermal ablation of precancerous lesions. The project also strengthens the skills of healthcare providers and establishes a referral system to ensure proper follow-up for advanced cases.
The pilot phase is being implemented in peri-urban areas of Dakar, with the goal of refining and scaling the model. In the long term, the project will be expanded to six other high-need regions: Kédougou, Sédhiou, Kolda, Tambacounda, Saint-Louis, and Ziguinchor.
In these pilot regions, around 2,000 girls and 3,000 women will benefit directly from the project activities. Community ambassadors, trained medical staff, and male allies will also be engaged. Indirectly, the project will reach local communities, regional health authorities, and religious and traditional leaders across the participating areas.
Partner organisation
ROAJELF (Réseau Ouest Africain des Jeunes Femmes Leaders)
SENAF (Sénégal Actions Féministes)
Warkha TV
Project phase
1.1.2026 to 31.12.2028
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