Faith Leaders Unite in Kenya to Fight Cervical Cancer and Maternal Deaths

By Melisa Mong' ina - Cervical cancer is primarily caused by persistent infection with high-risk strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV vaccination is not just a preventive measure but a direct defense against cervical cancer. Despite the availability of the vaccine, national uptake remains below 30%, hindered by misinformation, stigma, and limited access.

Kenya reports 342 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, while cervical cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Kenyan women, claiming over 3,500 lives annually.

To address this healthcare crisis, religious and health leaders from across Africa convened in Nairobi for the opening of the Faith in Action Health Conference, an interfaith initiative aimed at accelerating the fight against maternal mortality and cervical cancer.

Ms. Benda Kithaka, Executive Director of KILELE Health Association, highlighted that most girls reach the age of 15 without being vaccinated, making them ineligible to receive it, despite the fact that in Kenya, the vaccine is free for girls aged between 10 and 14 years.

“HPV vaccination is cervical cancer prevention, and yet our girls are passing the age of 14 going to 15 when they're no longer eligible for that vaccine, which is free for girls between ages 10 and 14 in this country,” stated Ms. Benda.

She acknowledged that while health facilities offer cervical cancer screening, most women are not taking advantage of the services due to lack of knowledge.

Ms. Benda emphasized that the conference aims to equip communities with knowledge and actionable information about maternal and women’s health, quoting scripture that states “our people are hurting for lack of knowledge.”

“We all know that health facilities are giving screening for cervical cancer elimination, and yet women are not taking these services,” she said.

Ms. Benda Kithaka, Executive Director of KILELE Health Association

She added, “It is true what we hear from the Good Book—our people are hurting for lack of knowledge. Therefore, this conference is set to give knowledge and information on maternal health so that we can all work together from a point of knowledge and take this message to the community.”

Ms. Benda further stressed the importance of empowering both men and women with preventive health knowledge, saying this is crucial not only for improved health but also for the economic and social wellbeing of children.

“We work to equip women and men with knowledge of what can be done to prevent these illnesses so that we can get communities that are contributing to the economy, and we can get our women to be able to raise our children in good health,” said Ms. Benda.

She insisted that cervical cancer is preventable through HPV vaccination and early detection, adding that life continues after cancer, survivorship is real, and communities must be encouraged to seek preventive care and treatment early.

“Cervical cancer is preventable with HPV vaccination and early detection. There is life beyond cancer, and survivorship is real. Therefore, let’s urge our communities to know better and to be able to prevent this illness as early as possible,” she urged.

Fr. Charles Chilufya, S.J., Executive Director of AHETI, aligned the initiative with the Christian observance of the Jubilee Year, a time of liberation and healing—including freeing women and families from the bondage of preventable illnesses such as cervical cancer.

“A Jubilee Year is a year in which the church declares a year for freedom of captives, freedom of those enslaved, freedom of those with debt to experience real freedom. And in this case, it also includes the freedom of our sisters and mothers who are enslaved by the diseases we are talking about. They must be free,” emphasized Fr. Charles.

Fr. Charles Chilufya, S.J., Executive Director of AHETI

He urged all faith-based institutions to use their influence, resources, and reach to ensure every girl receives the HPV vaccine and every woman gets access to treatment. 

He encouraged collaboration with governments and NGOs to extend healthcare to marginalized populations, ensuring no woman dies from a preventable disease.

“We have so much that we can deploy and put out there to ensure that all girls are vaccinated, women are treated, and those that need protection are protected,” said Fr. Charles.

He added, “We will give an opportunity to collaborate with government, NGOs, and other stakeholders to ensure that we put what we have as resources—the voice, the reach, the hospitals—out there for humanity. No man, no woman should die when there’s no need for them to die.”

Most Rev. Philip Anyolo, Archbishop of Nairobi and the conference’s chief guest, emphasized that healthcare should be a mission of love, not just a service. 

Quoting the teachings of the late Holy Father, he underscored that the church cannot remain indifferent to human suffering and that healthcare should uphold the dignity of each person.

Most Rev. Philip Anyolo, Archbishop of Nairobi, Director, Jesuits Justice and Ecology Network Africa 

“Our Holy Father, in his lifetime, may his soul rest in peace, insisted and taught us a very special truth that will forever endure in our lives. He taught that the church cannot remain indifferent to suffering. 

Healthcare is not just a service. It is a mission of love and a mission of dignity. Healthcare is one of the services to the suffering people,” he said.

The Archbishop referenced the biblical story of the hemorrhaging woman who was healed by touching Jesus’ cloak, explaining that healing should not be limited to the body but also touch the emotional and spiritual aspects, eliminating stigma, shame, and exclusion.

“When she touched Jesus' hem, she was not only healed from hemorrhage but also from hidden human elements. This brings out the meaning of dignity and love. Because without working and helping the sick people with love, we are just treating the numbers,” said Most Rev. Philip Anyolo.

He pointed out that the church is a hospital for the sick, one that heals in body, mind, thought, and soul. Archbishop Anyolo called on everyone to do the same: heal with love and dignity.

“The faith community is a hospital for the sick, to heal the sick in body, mind, thought, and even soul. Let us go out there, not to heal only the body, but to heal also the soul, to heal integrally and to heal with the dignity of that human person who needs it,” he urged.