HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention for West Africa

GAIA Vaccine Foundation is committed to fighting cervical cancer in Mali by providing free cervical cancer screenings. 

A recent article from the BBC describes how 9 out of 10 cervical cancer deaths occur in low-middle income countries where access to screenings are rare. Over 300,000 women die every year from cervical cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer among women. 

The HPV vaccine is considered to be 90% effective in preventing cervical cancer, however the vaccine remains unavailable in many of these countries, including Mali. 

GAIA VF continues to advocate for the need for the HPV vaccine in Mali. Please support GAIA VF today to allow Hope Center Clinic to continue offering cervical cancer screening which are truly life saving. 

Thank you for your support to GAIA Vaccine Foundation!

In West Africa, about one in five people have HPV. Studies have found that this high prevalence is explained by the presence of many factors that increase chances of contracting HPV in Mali. Early sexual activities and pregnancies increase the propensity for contracting HPV, and this is a common occurrence in Mali as girls are often married off during childhood or young adulthood. Having multiple sexual partners also increase the chance of carrying and contracting HPV, and as polygamy is culturally practiced, this is a factor that increases the spread of HPV, Having underlying sexually transmitted diseases, which are also easily spread through multiple partners, also increase the likelihood of being susceptible to HPV. 

As many of these factors are unlikely to disappear or change in the near future, it is crucial to provide HPV vaccinations to young girls and women in Mali. Prevention is a main pillar in GAIA VF’s mission - donate today to further the work!