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Rwanda steps up progress towards elimination of cervical cancer

Rwanda steps up progress towards elimination of cervical cancer

8 December 2025 | Rwanda

Kigali—Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in Rwanda. With around 1230 new diagnoses and around 830 deaths each year the disease is an ongoing concern for health authorities.

To lower the burden of the disease and save lives, in 2020 the country developed a national strategy aligned with World Health Organization (WHO)’s ambitious goal of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030. In addition, with WHO support, the country developed operational guidelines for screening for cervical cancer and treatment of pre-cancerous lesions of the cervix. In February 2025, the country took its commitment one step further, by launching the Accelerated Plan for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer 2024‒2027, otherwise known as “Mission 2027”. The plan outlines concrete actions that will lead to the elimination of cervical cancer in Rwanda by 2027, three years ahead of WHO’s global target.

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with WHO and other partners, is implementing human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, mass cervical cancer screening campaigns at health facilities and mobile outreach clinics, laboratory diagnosis, treatment and care to accelerate progress towards cervical cancer elimination.  

For Florida Nyirakarambe, a resident of Rubengera sector in Karongi district, in the west of Rwanda, what began as a persistent pain in her lower abdomen led to a cervical cancer diagnosis. “I'd gone to the health centre first, thinking it wasn't a big deal. They gave me medication for five days, but the pain got worse,” she says. The health centre transferred Nyirakarambe to the district’s Kibuye Referral Hospital where she was diagnosed with an early-stage cervical cancer lesion. From Kibuye Referral Hospital, she was transferred to Rwanda Military Referral and Teaching Hospital, a state-of-the-art facility in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, for chemotherapy. Nyirakarambe, who initially saw her diagnosis as a death sentence, is back to good health. “I took my medication exactly as I was told to. For almost two months, I didn't skip a single day of chemotherapy,” she recalls

Rwanda is ensuring that fewer women face such a diagnosis by prioritizing prevention, starting with vaccinating young girls against HPV, which causes most cervical cancers. The country, partnering with WHO and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, launched an HPV vaccination programme in 2011, the first in Africa. According to data from Rwanda Biomedical Centre, the country has since maintained over 90% vaccination coverage among girls aged 9‒15 years.

While vaccination provides crucial protection, routine diagnostic services are vital for early detection and timely treatment. Government data shows that less than 50% of expected cases are recorded in the national registry, indicating that many women remain undiagnosed or are diagnosed late. As of October 2025, the country has implemented cervical cancer screening programmes to achieve WHO elimination target in 9 districts out of 30 districts. Laboratory diagnostic services are available in five referral hospitals.

Until 2020, Rwanda used the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid, or VIA, screening method. While it is a simple, inexpensive and effective way to detect cervical abnormalities in low-resource settings, it has limitations in terms of accuracy. So, in August 2020, the country adopted HPV DNA testing that detects the presence of high-risk strains of HPV in cervical cells more accurately. “Early screening is good, because if we are able to diagnose you, there are means to treat you and you recover,” says Edith Nikuze, a midwife at Kibuye Referral Hospital.

Since 2020, the country has also shifted from opportunistic screening to mass campaigns, resulting in a significant increase in women attending screening services. “When people come for screening, sometimes they come in large numbers in a single day and we receive between 30 and 50 clients,” says Diane Uwabeza, a nurse from Rubengera Health Centre. To address the high workloads at health centres, specialized mobile teams support screening campaigns, particularly in areas with high workloads at health centres.

According to Théoneste Maniragaba, Director of the Cancer Diseases Unit at Rwanda Biomedical Centre, community health workers have been instrumental in mobilizing women for screening and treatment. "We work in partnership with community health workers to make sure eligible women meet with our healthcare providers," says Maniragaba. Marie Claire Mukeshimana, a community health worker also from Karongi district, recalls the initial scepticism she faced from women: “At first there were rumours saying that their cervixes were going to be taken out, so initially they were afraid,” she says. “As female community health workers, we took the initiative to get screened first to show it is safe and effective.”

As of October 2025, 30% of eligible women in Rwanda (close to 1.63 million), have undergone cervical cancer screening using HPV DNA-based tests. Among those screened, around 17% are HPV positive and around 1710 with suspected cervical cancer were referred to and managed at referral hospitals.

Rwanda's approach to cervical cancer treatment includes training health workers, improving laboratory diagnostics and ensuring equitable access to care. WHO, in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency and IARC, provided guidance on designing and implementing radiotherapy services, which culminated in the establishment of the country's first radiotherapy center in 2019. This multipronged approach is having an impact. According to government data, more than 90% of identified precancerous lesions and invasive cervical cancer cases have received treatment.

WHO, with support from partners, has contributed to the development of policies, guidelines and technical materials for cervical cancer management. The Organization has helped to train health workers and integrate cervical cancer data into national data systems, enabling real-time monitoring and reporting of screening and treatment activities. In collaboration with partners, WHO has also supported Rwanda to ramp up screening services in five districts. “WHO stands firmly alongside the Rwandan government in their efforts to combat cervical cancer and enhance the health and well-being of all women across the country,” says health promotion and noncommunicable disease officer at WHO Rwanda, Dr Augustin Gatera. Reflecting on her experience, Nyirakarambe is upbeat and hopeful. “I want to tell people that when you're sick, you shouldn't despair. You should go to the hospital, because the doctors are capable,” she says.

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