HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention for West Africa

The ongoing program HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention in West Africa, created by GAIA Vaccine Foundation, works to establish the best possible distribution method of HPV vaccinations in Mali given the high rates of cervical cancer within the community. 

HPV, or Human Papillomavirus, is a sexually transmitted disease that can lead to the development of cervical cancer. This deadly disease is the most common cancer among Malian women, and thus requires immediate action to help end the spread. Sadly, the HPV vaccine is not currently available in Mali. The two strands within HPV, strand 16 and 17, are both the leading cause of developing cervical cancer and also the strains that can be prevented from mutating by the vaccine. While this HPV vaccine has been approved and distributed within 125 countries, developing nations such as Mali have limited access. Due to the lack of the vaccine’s presence in the country, many women and members of the population also do not understand the importance of receiving the vaccine. 

The HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention in West Africa program is working to not only educate the population about the importance of receiving the HPV vaccination, but also effectively distribute the vaccine across Malian communities. To educate the Malian population, the program has used a West African style ‘story-telling’ cloth to communicate the importance of receiving the vaccine to protect one’s self. 

The main goal of the program is to limit the mortality rate of women with cervical cancer by advocating for access to the HPV vaccination in Malian communities. This goes hand in hand with the increased education on the vaccine, which would inspire more women to undergo cervical cancer screenings. This combined approach would minimize the death rate of Malian women who are in the prime of their lives. By donating $10, you would be providing a potentially life saving cervical cancer screening and printed cloth for one woman. For only $15, you would be providing treatment for one woman with precancerous lesions, and for $25, you would be providing cervical cancer screenings for five women. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated at this time, in order to help GAIA Vaccine Foundation save the lives of thousands of Malian women by preventing the spread of HPV through vaccination. 

According to statistics gathered by The College of Physicians in Philadelphia, nearly a third of women will test positive for HPV in their lifetime, and more than 80% of women will be infected by HPV by the time they are 50. The high prevalence of HPV demonstrates the need for consistent and organized distribution of HPV vaccinations in areas that are more susceptible.  This is the goal of the project HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention for West Africa.

The HPV vaccine that prevents four types of HPV was first approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006. Several more were approved in 2009, and another in 2014. As research from HPV developed, so did the vaccines. What’s interesting about these vaccinations is that they contain no viral RNA or DNA, so they are unable to transmit diseases to the host. Research on these vaccination also suggests that they are effective in preventing precancerous cervical and anal changes in both men and women, which is caused by high risk cancer causing HPV strands (History of Vaccines). Overall, the prevalence of the HPV vaccination is a life saving preemptive necessity. 

Two strains of the HPV virus are responsible for around 70% of all cervical cancer cases. These two strains can be prevented with the HPV vaccine. Unfortunately, however, developing countries such as Mali do not have the same access to this vaccine as countries such as the United States. Many women in Mali also do not realize the importance of receiving yearly cervical exams, and how it can prevent cervical cancer. 

By donating to the ongoing project HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention for West Africa, you will be helping Mali increase their HPV vaccination numbers and save countless lives. For just $10, you’d be giving a printed education cloth and a cervical screening to one woman. For only $15, you can provide treatment for one woman with precancerous lesions. For just $50, you will cover the cost of providing the HPV vaccination for 10 adolescents. Your generous donations will help countless individuals acquire the medical attention needed to prevent this life threatening disease.