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Test tubes in a clinic.
Early screening and detection could lead to a decrease in mortality among those with cervical cancer.
As part of World Health Cancer Day – the Department of Health conducted a stakeholder engagement event at Emperors Palace, east of Johannesburg – to find solutions and prevent deaths.
#CancerAmbassador Norma Mbali. at the Cervical Cancer Stakeholder Engagement event at Kempton Park today. pic.twitter.com/n4KmTWGYpp
— National Department of Health (@HealthZA) February 4, 2026
With over 10 000 new cases diagnosed each year – close to 6 000 women die from cervical cancer annually in South Africa.
The Health Department has also emphasized that HPV vaccination for young girls will help curb cervical cancer deaths.
The Department adds that cervical cancer is among the most common cancers in South African women, consistently ranking as the second most frequent cancer in women after breast cancer.
Their statistics highlight that over 10 000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer in the country each year.
With women living with HIV are at a higher risk, just like Winnie Ndlovu, who found out after her abnormal pap smear – a procedure where cells from the cervix are collected for testing.
“Oh, it was not easy. It was not easy, when they told me that about the abnormalities with my results, I didn’t take it very well. I stay with the letter for a month. I picked myself up. I was like, no, let’s go and deal with this. whatever it is, let’s deal with this and that’s where I picked myself up and went to the hospital to do the biopsy.”
Ndlovu is now a cancer survivor.
She says early detection, awareness and support go a long way.
I think people are still dying because of a lack of knowledge. with the fear of going to the clinic, because we all know that at the clinic. We don’t get the good services that we’re looking for. So, some people say, no, let me just stay and not go. With the cervical screening, we find that a person at the age of 40 is the first time she’s doing the pap smear.”
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the 6 000 cervical cancer deaths are significantly higher in South Africa than the global average.
“Cervical cancer has got a very high mortality, which is measured in what is called five-year survival rate. Cancer is our new pandemic. It’s going to be our new HIV, our new COVID-19. There’s no question about that. Around the whole world, cancer is spreading like veld fire. And it’s going to be much more difficult, and that’s to provide than HIV itself, because there are many people who are HIV positive, as you know, who have been alive for 30 years on treatment. With cancer, ones who are in stage three and four, it’s very difficult. So, we want that awareness, we want people to know that cancer that can be eliminated, like cervical cancer.”
