Why is cervical cancer prevention a priority for Rwanda?

Cervical cancer is the most common cancer among women in Rwanda. It is caused by a virus called the human papillomavirus or HPV. We can prevent cervical cancer with simple tools such as the HPV vaccine and screening the cervix for disease.

What is HPV?

HPV is short for human papillomavirus. HPV causes 99% of cervical cancers.

How do you get HPV?

HPV is spread both sexually and non-sexually, though sexual transmission is the most common route.

Most HPV infections clear up on their own and people don’t even know they have it.

However, certain strains of HPV can cause lesions on the cervix, some of which will turn cancerous if not quickly identified and treated.