By: Davida Spaine-Solomon
Freetown, 24th November 2025- In a historic move, Sierra Leone joined the world on 17th November 2025 to mark the first-ever Global Action Day to eliminate cervical cancer. The announcement was made by Deputy Minister of Health 2, Dr. Jalikatu Mustapha, who highlighted the urgent need to raise awareness and protect women from the deadly disease.
“Cervical cancer is preventable, yet it remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women,” Dr. Jalikatu said. She explained that the disease is caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), which is commonly transmitted through sexual contact. While both men and women can carry the virus, women are particularly at risk of developing cervical cancer, often 20 to 30 years after initial infection. Alarmingly, she disclosed that over 500 women in Sierra Leone are diagnosed annually, with about 70% succumbing to the disease.
To combat this public health challenge, the Ministry of Health and its partners developed a Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy in August 2023. As part of this strategy, the cervical cancer vaccine, or “Maklate,” has been integrated into the regular vaccination schedule at government hospitals, reaching more than 500,000 girls to date.
Taking the fight further, Dr. Jalikatu revealed that on 17th November 2025, the Ministry officially launched a national vaccination campaign targeting 1 million girls aged 11 to 18 years. “The vaccine is highly effective, with a 90% protection rate when administered before exposure,” she noted.
In addition to vaccination, the Ministry has established 24 screening centers across the country to detect HPV infection or early signs of cervical cancer. These centers, located in the Western Area and all district government hospitals, offer free screening services. In Freetown, women can access these services at PCMH Hospital, Kingharman Road Hospital, Ross Road Community Health Center, Murray Town Community Health Center, Jui Hospital, Regent Community Health Center, and Lakka Ogu Farm Community Health Center.
Dr. Jalikatu urged all eligible girls and their families to take advantage of the free vaccination and screening services, emphasizing that early detection and vaccination are key to saving lives. “We have the tools to eliminate cervical cancer. What we need now is community participation and awareness,” she concluded.
