Zimbabwe’s dual public health crisis: cervical cancer and HIV

Of the country’s 16 million residents, almost 1.3 million live with HIV[1], making Zimbabwe the country with the highest HIV rates in the world.

According to the World Cancer Research Fund, it is also the country with the fourth-highest rate of cervical cancer[2].

The link between HIV and cervical cancer may not be well known but women diagnosed with HIV have a higher risk of developing the disease. In fact, cervical cancer is the most common cancer among females living with HIV[3].

Almost all cases of cervical cancer are caused by HPV infections. Despite cervical cancer being preventable and treatable, the social stigma associated with HPV as a sexually transmitted infection results in three-quarters of women in Zimbabwe with cervical cancer seeking treatment far too late[4].

The high rate of cervical cancer in Zimbabwe underscores the need for effective and low-cost cervical screening methods throughout the country, and there are signs that political momentum to address this health crisis is building.

From African HIV Initiative to Zimbabwe

In 2018, TruScreen launched its African HIV Initiative that aims to bring effective cervical screening to HIV-affected women throughout the continent. The program involves talks with senior health officials to examine the state of cervical screening throughout Africa and identify potential methods to improve cervical screening among HIV-affected women.

Via this initiative, Zimbabwe’s National AIDS Council selected TruScreen to provide cervical cancer screening to women living with HIV.

The National AIDS Council leads and coordinates the national strategy in response to HIV and AIDS in Zimbabwe and has launched programmes on cancer awareness, cancer training, and screening and management to accelerate the fight against AIDS-defining cancers such as cervical cancer.

Political Support to Improve Screening