When faith meets science: Religious leaders endorse cervical cancer jab

Executive Director KILELE Health Association Benda Kitaka chats with Archrbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Narobi Most Rev Philip Anyolo as AHETI Director Father Charles Chilufya looks on after the Faith for Action Health Conference on April 28,2025. [Benard Orwongo, Standard] In 2009, when the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine was being introduced in Kenya, Purity Munyoro, 17, then, now 32, got vaccinated. Her mother, a medical doctor, had heard about the pilot programme in Kitui County and insisted she takes the jab. At the time, Purity did not understand the fuss around it, but she trusted her mother's decision. "I wasn't even sure what HPV was," Purity recalled. "But my mother took me to the wards to show me women suffering from cervical cancer. That visual stayed with me." Today, she stands as an HPV advocate, using her voice to amplify awareness and push for wider uptake of the vaccine that protects against cervical cancer. "Many of my peers did not get it because their parents did not trust it. Some said it would make girls infertile. Others said it was a foreign plan to harm African girls. I am here to change that narrative," she said during the African and Economic Transformation Initiative (AHETI) faith-health conference. Human Papillomavirus is a common sexually transmitted virus, with certain strains responsible for causing cervical cancer. Globally, HPV types 16 and 18 are known to cause more than 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The disease remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women, especially in low- and middle-income countries. When the HPV vaccine was formally rolled out nationally in 2019 targeting 10-year-old girls, it was met with significant backlash. A wave of misinformation, suspicion, myths, and deep-rooted cultural and religious resistance swirled around it, overshadowing scientific evidence. "There were claims it would make girls promiscuous or sterile," said Benda Kithaka, Executive Director of Kilele Health Association. "Even in 2025, some parents are still hesitant despite overwhelming global and local evidence on the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine." Conservative religious factions and some political voices amplified these concerns. The Ministry of Health, supported by WHO, Gavi, and various non-governmental organisations, pressed on. According to WHO, more than 80 million doses of the HPV vaccine have been administered worldwide with proven efficacy and safety. Purity Munyoro said, "If I can stand here, vaccinated, and healthy with a baby boy, then I am living proof the vaccine is safe. Let us not let ignorance rob our girls of their future." Maternal and child health remains a critical indicator of public health and development in Kenya, where maternal ratio stands at approximately 342 per 100,000 live births. Preventable conditions like cervical cancer continue to be the leading cause of cancer deaths among women in Kenya, with more than 3,200 new cases diagnosed annually. HPV vaccination which could prevent up to 70 per cent of cervical cancer cases, has faced implementation challenges with coverage rates remaining below national targets. Fast forward to 2024, and there's a significant shift. At the faith-health conference hosted by AHETI, religious leaders across Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism pledged support for HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening. Philip Anyolo, Archbishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, was among those leading this renewed faith-driven support. "We have a duty to preserve life. Faith must not stand in the way of good health. If science and the Church agree that a vaccine saves lives, who are we to object?" Similarly, Sheikh Amani Hamisi, a religious leader from the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), openly addressed the misconceptions. "We must not allow ignorance to cost lives. Islam encourages the pursuit of knowledge and the preservation of life. If vaccines work, let our girls be vaccinated." "If a vaccine protects the womb, the seat of humanity, then it is our responsibility to endorse it," Sheikh Hamisi added. The tone of the conference was clear: religion is no longer a barrier, but a bridge. This shift comes at a time when Kenya, like many countries, is striving to meet WHO's 90-70-90 targets: 90 per cent of girls vaccinated by 15 years, 70 per cent of women screened by 35 and again by 45, and 90 per cent of women diagnosed with cervical disease treated. Forty-nine-year-old Judy Wanyoike vividly remembers her painful journey. In 2012, she began feeling unwell. She bled constantly and suffered extreme fatigue. Her periods became unbearable. She experienced severe menstrual cramps, intense lower back pain and discomfort during intercourse, which she initially dismissed as normal or due to stress. "I kept going to local clinics in Dandora, but they couldn't tell me what was wrong. I had no money to go to Kenyatta National Hospital," she said. Her breakthrough came in 2017 when a church in Nakuru hosted a seminar focused on women's health. The seminar was inspired by the death of the pastor's wife from cervical cancer. "He said he didn't want another woman in the church to suffer silently," Wanyoike recalled. "So, they brought in doctors to offer free cervical cancer screening for every woman." That day, Judy got screened. The results shocked her. "That's when I was diagnosed with Stage 2B cervical cancer," she said. This stage means the cancer had spread beyond the cervix into the surrounding tissues but had not yet reached the pelvic wall. It was advanced and required immediate intervention. She began an intensive treatment regimen, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and internal brachytherapy. Due to the extent of the spread, her ovaries had to be removed, a process known as oophorectomy. It marked the end of her fertility and led to early menopause. "I cried for days," she said. "But the church stood with me. They prayed with me, supported me emotionally and even helped with fare to get to my appointments." Today, Judy is cancer-free. Her resilience is an inspiration. "But it shouldn't take death or disaster to push us to act. If I had been screened earlier, maybe I wouldn't have had to go through all that." Now, she champions early screening and HPV vaccination. "I tell women this is not a death sentence. It's a wake-up call. Let's act before it's too late." According to the World Population Review, 2025 estimates that 85 per cent of the world's population identifies with a religion, with majority being Christians (31 per cent), Muslims (24 per cent), Hindus (15 per cent), Buddhists (seven per cent), other religious groupings (eight per cent) and another 15 per cent being non-religious. In sub-Saharan Africa, an estimated 95 per cent of the population identify with a religion. In Kenya, approximately 85 per cent identify as Christian, 11 per cent as Muslim and three per cent as either Bahai, Hindu or non-religious and two per cent identifying with traditional religions. This extensive reach positions them as influential stakeholders in shaping health-seeking behaviours community acceptance of interventions and ultimately health outcomes particularly for sensitive health services such as reproductive health and HPV vaccination. Global frameworks such as WHO's Behavioural and Social Drivers (BeSD) model underscores that religion is one of the most powerful behavioural influencers in health-seeking behaviour. In Kenya, religious engagement remains inconsistent and under-leveraged in health programming. Despite immense investment in maternal child health and cervical cancer prevention health programmes, social and gender norms continue to hinder access and utilisation of these services by the intended constituents and while many health initiatives have engaged faith actors, few have done it based on empirical evidence of what works, for whom and what context. The Faith to Action Network health conference experience, corroborated by research findings, sought to demonstrate that partnering with faith actors to shift harmful social and gender norms can result in increased uptake of maternal and child health and cervical cancer prevention as well as a reduction in maternal and neonatal mortalities and cervical cancer rates by harnessing faith leaders' social capital and influence within their communities. According to Globocan 2022, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among Kenyan women, after breast cancer. About 5,250 women are diagnosed annually, and nearly 3,300 die from the disease each year. This is about 10 per cent of all cancer deaths in the country. These numbers are more than just statistics, they represent mothers, sisters, and daughters lost to a preventable disease Despite this, uptake of the HPV vaccine has remained below target. As of late 2024, counties like Mandera and Garissa had improved their vaccination rates to 16 per cent and 18 per cent, respectively, but these numbers are still far below the 90 per cent target. "The cost of delayed action is catastrophic," said Benda. "We must do more and do it now." According to Kilele Health's presentation at the conference, vaccine administration in Kenya has followed a hybrid strategy. This includes school-based vaccination programmes, mobile outreach for hard-to-reach areas, and health facility-based services. The vaccines are offered primarily to girls aged 10, often through primary schools, and supported by the Gavi Alliance and the Ministry of Health. "The model integrates education, mobilisation, and service delivery," said Benda "We work with teachers, community health workers, and even boda riders to ensure girls get vaccinated and follow up for their second dose." She acknowledged that one of the biggest obstacles remains misinformation. "There were no proven cases of adverse vaccine effects during the initial rollout, either during the pilot in Kitui or during the 2019 national launch. The safety profile has always been solid," she noted, citing WHO's global review of HPV vaccines. Organisations like the Centres for Disease and Control and Prevention and Pharmacy and Poisons Board have also confirmed that no harmful effects have been found related to the HPV vaccine in Kenya. "It's important that we counter misinformation not with fear, but with fact and empathy," Benda added. Kilele Health has played a pivotal role in awareness and advocacy of the three levels of cervical cancer prevention: primary (vaccination), secondary (screening), and tertiary (treatment). "Vaccination must be accompanied by education. Women must know where to go for screening. They need to understand the signs and symptoms. It's not just about hospitals. It's about trust and access," she said. She also shared success stories from counties like Isiolo and Tharaka Nithi, where targeted community outreach increased vaccine uptake by over 50 per cent. Sister Esther Wairimu, CEO of St Francis Community Hospital, announced a major step forward: free cervical cancer screenings and HPV vaccines would be available at their hospital on May 16 and 17.

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