Clergy and medics launch lifesaving cervical cancer drive ahead of May mega camp

A powerful interfaith movement is taking root in Kenya, as religious and health leaders from across Africa gathered in Nairobi to launch an unprecedented campaign to combat maternal deaths and cervical cancer — two of the continent’s most pressing, yet preventable, health challenges.

Held at the Karen Christian Conference Centre, the two-day Faith in Action Health Conference was officially opened by Nairobi Catholic Archbishop Most Rev. Philip Anyolo, who rallied faith leaders to step beyond the pulpit and become active agents in safeguarding the health and dignity of women and girls.

“This moment demands more than prayer; it demands action,” Archbishop Anyolo declared. “As shepherds of our communities, we must not only preach about dignity and life—we must protect it.”

Organized by the Africa Health and Economic Transformation Initiative (AHETI), the conference brought together a diverse coalition of Catholic bishops, Muslim scholars, Hindu and Protestant leaders, Seventh-day Adventists, and global health experts. Their unified call: to expand access to HPV vaccination, maternal health services, and early cervical cancer screening, especially in marginalized communities where cultural and religious beliefs often shape health decisions.

Kenya faces a maternal mortality rate of 342 deaths per 100,000 live births, while cervical cancer claims over 3,500 lives annually, making it the leading cause of cancer deaths among Kenyan women. Despite the availability of the HPV vaccine, uptake remains below 30%, largely due to misinformation, stigma, and poor access in rural areas.

Fr. Charles Chilufya, S.J., Executive Director of AHETI, stressed the strategic role of religious leaders in bridging the health information gap: “Religious leaders have the trust of millions. That trust must now be used to save lives. We are moving from pulpits to public health campaigns.”

Benda Kithaka, Founder and Executive Director of KILELE Health Association, made a passionate appeal during the event, tying the urgency of HPV vaccination to World Immunization Week and Africa Vaccination Week.

“Our girls are passing the age of 14—when they are no longer eligible for the free HPV vaccine—without receiving it,” she warned. “Cervical cancer is preventable through vaccination and early detection. Let’s give our communities the knowledge to protect themselves.”

She also highlighted how ignorance and stigma prevent women from seeking life-saving screening services. “Our people are hurting for lack of knowledge,” she said. “We must empower both men and women with information that allows them to live healthy, productive lives.”

Judy Wanyoike, a cervical cancer survivor from Nakuru, brought a human face to the statistics. Diagnosed in 2012 at stage 2B, she described the pain of endless bleeding, financial hardship, and the struggle to care for her children while battling cancer.

“Cancer drained me,” she said, thanking KILELE Health for stepping in when she had nowhere else to turn. “I urge mothers—if your daughters are between 10 and 15—please get them vaccinated.

To ensure the conference leads to tangible outcomes, Sister Easter Mwangi, CEO of St. Francis Community Hospital, announced a major cervical cancer screening and vaccination camp scheduled for May 16–17 at the hospital.

“Specialist doctors in obstetrics and gynecology are ready. Girls eligible for the HPV vaccine will be vaccinated. Education sessions will run throughout,” she said, calling the effort a practical manifestation of faith in action.

Faith leaders were urged to must champion access to healthcare—not just through sermons, but through advocacy, resource mobilization, and community empowerment.

“There is life beyond cancer,” said Kithaka. “Let’s urge our communities to know better, act earlier, and protect our women and girls.”

For the thousands of women like Judy, and the many more at risk, this united front of faith and health may be the long-awaited answer to their prayers.