Windhoek ‒ Andra Chigova, a 10-year-old girl from Windhoek, Namibia, is encouraging other girls to get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes most cervical cancers. “I just got my HPV vaccination today. Do not be scared ‒ the HPV vaccine will protect us in the future against cervical cancer,” she says.  

Chigova is one of the thousands of girls who have received the HPV vaccine through the national campaign launched by the Ministry of Health and Social Services in August 2025, with support from World Health Organization (WHO) and other partners. The campaign targets around 232 000 girls aged 9 to 14 years across all 14 regions of Namibia. During the initial two weeks of the campaign, which ran from 4‒15 August 2025, around 65 000 girls were vaccinated.

Chigova’s parents educated her about the importance of the vaccine and how it will protect her from cervical cancer as she grows older. “Nothing makes me happier than knowing my daughter is now protected from cervical cancer,” says her mother, Temptation Chigova. “I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact this disease has on women, their families and entire communities. I am truly grateful to the Government of Namibia for ensuring that our daughters will not have to endure the same pain.”

Globally, cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women, with an estimated 660 000 new cases in 2022. Almost 94% of the 350 000 cervical cancer deaths that year occurred in low- and middle-income countries.  

The disease remains a pressing public health challenge in Namibia, with an estimated 350 new cases and more than 200 deaths each year. To address this, Namibia has aligned with WHO’s Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, which sets ambitious targets: vaccinating 90% of girls against HPV by age 15; screening 70% of women by ages 35 and 45; and ensuring 90% of women with cervical cancer disease receive timely treatment. The national HPV vaccination campaign is key to Namibia’s strategy to reduce the burden of cervical cancer.  

According to Ramona Mbadeka, a nurse at Groot Aub Clinic on the outskirts of Windhoek, health workers are reaching out to parents to provide information and dispel any misinformation about the vaccine. “Some parents who initially refused to allow their daughters to be vaccinated later consented after attending an information session on the vaccine,” he says. “The vaccine is voluntary and I encourage parents to educate themselves with accurate information.”

Dr Esperance Luvindao, Minister of Health and Social Services in Namibia, reiterates that the vaccine is safe and effective. “We are seeing far too many women affected by this preventable illness. The numbers speak for themselves,” she says. “We welcome questions and are here to provide accurate information so families can make informed decisions based on facts, not fear or misinformation.”

Before and during the two-week campaign WHO worked with health authorities to provide supportive supervision to monitor progress at service delivery points, including health facilities and schools. The Organization supported a technical mission to strengthen planning, logistics, training and community engagement, addressing misinformation and operational gaps. In addition, WHO supported the development of the National HPV Vaccine Introduction Plan and the vaccination communication strategy. As part of its risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) efforts, WHO contributed to the development of information materials, media monitoring and the delivery of training modules for health workers, regional RCCE officers and community health workers.

“The ongoing HPV vaccination campaign aims to prevent infection, protect health and save the lives of our young girls from cervical cancer in the years to come,” says Dr Richard Banda, WHO Representative in Namibia. “I congratulate the Government of Namibia in this milestone in its public health journey.”

For Chigova, the campaign is not just about numbers but rather the promise of a healthy future for herself and her peers. “Now I feel happy because I know I am protected,” she says.