RC's Statement - Launch of the Integrated HPV Multi-Age Cohort (MAC) Vaccination Campaign & Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action

Good morning. On behalf of the Health Development Partners, including the United Nations system, it is an honour to stand with you on this historic day. Today, we do not just launch a campaign; we gather on the front lines of a battle we can win, to declare a future free from cervical cancer for every girl in Sierra Leone. 

Cervical cancer is more than a preventable tragedy; it is an injustice we have the power to end. Here in Sierra Leone, it remains a leading cause of cancer death among women, a stark reality that we are here to change. 

The World Health Organization’s global elimination strategy provides our roadmap: the 90-70-90 targets, which requires that 90% of girls be fully vaccinated against HPV by age 15, 70% of women screened by age 35, and 90% of those diagnosed receiving timely treatment.  Today, with this campaign, Sierra Leone is taking a decisive leap towards the first and most critical of those goals: vaccinating 90% of our girls. 

By targeting girls aged 11 to 18, this Multi-Age Cohort campaign is a powerful drive for equity. It is a promise that no girl is too old, no community too remote, to be left behind. This builds on the government’s visionary introduction of the vaccine into routine immunization in 2022, demonstrating Sierra Leone’s unwavering commitment to protecting an entire generation. This effort reflects strong government leadership and the power of partnership between the Ministry of Health, line Ministries, the UN system, Gavi, civil society, development partners and communities. It also demonstrates our shared commitment to Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals. 

For us in the United Nations in particular, we are proud to have walked this path with you. WHO has provided the technical backbone of strategic and technical guidance, supported the development of national campaign strategies, and trained health workers at all levels for quality service delivery and equity, including independent monitoring of the intervention. UNICEF has played a critical role in social mobilization, community engagement, and fortified the cold chain and supply chain systems to guarantee that potent vaccines reach every eligible girl, in school and out of school. UNFPA has integrated this fight of cervical cancer prevention into broader reproductive health programs, advocating for the rights of women and girls and ensuring that women and girls have access to comprehensive care. Together, these contributions have laid the foundation for a successful campaign and sustainable cervical cancer prevention. I would also like to specifically thank the Vaccine Alliance, GAVI for their financial and technical support towards this campaign. 

But our work does not stop at vaccination. We have partnered with the Ministry of Health to establish cervical cancer screening centres in all 16 districts, reaching more than 33,000 women with services in one year. This is our integrated approach in action: we vaccinate the girls of today, to protect the women of tomorrow, and we screen and treat to save the women of today. 

As the UN Secretary-General has said, “No woman should die from a disease that is entirely preventable.” This is not just a health issue; it is a profound matter of gender equality, human rights, and social justice. 

And so, my call to action is clear: 

To our government partners: Let us sustain this momentum. Let us embed HPV vaccination as a routine, unmissable rite of passage for every adolescent. Under present global funding landscape, increased domestic funding is of high imperative to sustain the health gains so far achieved. 

To our fellow Development partners and Donors, especially GAVI: Your partnership has brought us here. Your continued investment is the essential fuel for this life-saving mission. 

To the Private Sector and Civil Society: Lend your voices, your innovation, and your reach. Help us break down the final barriers of stigma, distance, and doubt. 

Today, on Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, we are not just making a promise; we are delivering on it. Let us leave here united, not just by a goal, but by a conviction: to protect every girl, to empower every woman, and to be the generation that eliminates cervical cancer from Sierra Leone. 

Thank you.