Cervical Cancer Prevention

The Angolan Case

Abstract

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Angola, posing significant challenges to the country’s health system. This situation is the result of substantial deficiencies in public health infrastructure, population awareness, and access to preventive services, despite the availability of cost-effective interventions like HPV vaccination and cervical screening. The implementation of organized screening programs has proven to be difficult in low-resource settings. Although visual inspection methods have been introduced to address these challenges, they face limitations in diagnostic accuracy and coverage. Similarly, HPV vaccination campaigns, though promising, are also constrained by logistical and socio-geographical barriers.
This review explores the current status of cervical cancer prevention in Angola, identifying key challenges such as the lack of epidemiological studies, limited screening infrastructure, and socio-economic barriers to healthcare access. There remains considerable work ahead to fulfill the World Health Organization’s 2030 elimination strategy - 90% vaccination, 70% screening, and 90% treatment coverage. Nevertheless, promising progress can be made by embracing innovative screening methods incorporating self-sampling and mobile health units, expanding HPV vaccination efforts, and tackling cultural and logistical obstacles.