In a landmark two-day workshop hosted at the Argyle Grand Hotel, key public and private sector stakeholders united to chart a stronger pathway for the uptake of HPV DNA testing in Kenya. The convening responded to the country’s persistently low cervical cancer screening coverage and the even lower uptake of HPV DNA testing, despite its proven effectiveness in early detection of high-risk infections
The meeting brought together a diverse coalition of actors including the National Cancer Institute of Kenya (NCI-K), Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defence, county governments, Roche, Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), CIHEB, Old Mutual, and county-level laboratory and health officials.
The central theme was the urgent need to reverse Kenya’s high cervical cancer mortality by shifting to evidence-based strategies. Participants emphasized that HPV DNA testing offers superior sensitivity compared to older methods such as VIA or Pap smears, making it a cornerstone in the fight against cervical cancer.
A high-level panel featuring Dr. Elias Melly (CEO, NCI-K), Dr. Taofik Oloruko Oba (Roche), Lance Osiro (CHAI), Pamela Were, and Sylvia Kadima underscored the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration. Deliberations highlighted distinct roles: government in creating policy and financing frameworks, NGOs and development partners in community mobilization, and the private sector in scaling access to innovative diagnostics and sustainable financing solutions.
Practical sessions formed a key part of the workshop. Breakout groups, led by Dr. Michelle Nguu, Pamela Were, and Faith Mathai, tackled ground-level implementation. Participants engaged in:
Hands-on demonstrations of sample collection techniques, with emphasis on self-sampling methods to increase women’s comfort, privacy, and uptake.
Practical laboratory exercises, covering HPV DNA processing workflows, quality assurance protocols, and approaches for improving turnaround time of results.
Simulation of referral and follow-up pathways, ensuring women who test positive are seamlessly linked to diagnosis and treatment services.
Exploration of implementation models, ranging from county-level integration into existing RMNCAH platforms to employer-based wellness programs, including Old Mutual’s workplace health initiatives.
The workshop closed with a plenary session where county teams and partners presented recommendations. There was strong consensus on the need for sustained national coordination, resource pooling, and community-centered strategies to normalize HPV testing.
The collective commitment was clear: through strategic partnerships and practical implementation, Kenya can transform cervical cancer from a leading killer into a preventable and treatable disease for all women.
Leave a Reply