Staff Reporter
THE Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) is using National Cancer Awareness Week to urge greater awareness, HPV vaccination and regular cervical cancer screening, warning that the disease remains the second most common cancer among Namibian women despite being largely preventable through early intervention.
National Cancer Awareness Week, observed from 3 to 7 August, focuses this year on cervical cancer and the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), with CAN aiming to improve public understanding of the disease and encourage prevention measures.
CAN chief executive officer Rolf Hansen said every woman deserves the opportunity to live a healthy and productive life, but cervical cancer continues to claim the lives of many Namibian mothers, daughters, sisters and friends.
According to the Namibia National Cancer Registry and the latest GLOBOCAN 2024 estimates, cervical cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in Namibia.
The country records about 453 new cervical cancer cases annually, representing an age-standardised incidence rate of 37.2 per 100 000 women. Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer, with around 701 new cases each year, while prostate cancer accounts for about 440 cases annually.
Overall, Namibia records an estimated 4 205 new cancer diagnoses each year, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 202.2 per 100 000 people.
CAN added that Namibia has one of the highest cancer incidence rates in Africa relative to its population size, underlining the need for greater investment in prevention, screening, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care.
Hansen said the statistics represent real people and families affected by the disease.
HPV is an extremely common virus, with most sexually active people expected to contract it at some point during their lives. While the body’s immune system clears most infections naturally, certain high-risk HPV strains can persist for years and eventually cause cervical cancer if left undetected and untreated.
HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancer cases worldwide, while several other high-risk strains account for most of the remaining cases.
CAN stressed that HPV infection is common, but cervical cancer is largely preventable through vaccination and routine screening.
The association also highlighted the increased risk faced by women living with HIV, noting that weakened immune systems make it more difficult to clear persistent HPV infections. As a result, women living with HIV are significantly more likely to develop cervical cancer and often experience pre-cancerous changes at younger ages.
CAN said HPV vaccination works by preparing the body’s immune system to recognise and defend against the HPV strains most commonly linked to cervical cancer. It emphasised that the vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections, cannot cause HPV infection and cannot cause cervical cancer.
The vaccine offers the greatest protection when administered before exposure to HPV, which is why the World Health Organization recommends routine vaccination for girls between the ages of nine and 14.
Girls in this age group develop a particularly strong immune response, providing long-lasting protection before they become exposed to the virus.
The Ministry of Health and Social Services currently provides the Gardasil vaccine, which protects against HPV types 16 and 18, responsible for most cervical cancers, as well as types 6 and 11, which cause most genital warts.
CAN said extensive international research involving millions of vaccine doses has demonstrated both the vaccine’s effectiveness and its strong safety profile.
The association acknowledged that many parents have questions about vaccinations but urged them to rely on scientific evidence rather than misinformation shared on social media.
It said that the HPV vaccine has been used worldwide for nearly two decades and is included in national immunisation programmes in more than 100 countries, contributing to significant reductions in HPV infections, cervical pre-cancers and cervical cancer.
Besides persistent HPV infection, CAN said several factors increase the risk of cervical cancer, including HIV infection, smoking, long-term immune suppression, delayed screening, limited access to healthcare, multiple pregnancies and untreated HPV infections.
The association also stressed that women should continue routine cervical screening even after vaccination.
Screening methods, including Pap smears, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and HPV DNA testing where available, can detect abnormal cervical cells before cancer develops, allowing for early treatment and significantly better outcomes.
CAN warned that early cervical cancer often causes no symptoms, making routine screening essential.
Women were urged to seek medical attention if they experience abnormal vaginal bleeding, bleeding after sexual intercourse or menopause, persistent unusual vaginal discharge, pelvic pain or pain during intercourse.
As part of National Cancer Awareness Week, CAN called on government, healthcare workers, educators, employers, community leaders and the public to work together to increase awareness of HPV, encourage regular cervical screening, support evidence-based vaccination, reduce stigma and improve access to timely diagnosis and treatment.
“Together, through awareness, prevention and early detection, we can change Namibia’s cancer story,” Hansen said.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photo: Pexels
