On 17th November 2024, the Coalition of Women Living with HIV and AIDS (COWLHA) proudly stood in solidarity with global partners to mark Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action. This year’s theme, “𝐄𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬,” captured the heart of the movement—shifting promises into progress and ensuring that every woman and girl has access to life-saving care.

The event was a powerful gathering of voices, stories, and commitments aimed at eliminating cervical cancer, a preventable yet devastating disease that affects millions of women worldwide.

Elevating the Voices of Survivors

One of the most compelling moments of the day came from Emma Mabasa, a dedicated member of COWLHA and a courageous cervical cancer survivor. Emma shared her moving journey, highlighting the challenges she faced and the triumph of overcoming them. Her story resonated deeply, reminding us of the critical importance of early detection, community support, and access to quality healthcare services.

Emma’s testimony also underscored the value of empowering women to speak up and advocate for their health. In her words:
“𝘚𝘶𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴𝘯’𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵—𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘮 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴.”

Frontline Health Workers: The Heart of Elimination Efforts

The event also shone a spotlight on frontline health workers—the backbone of healthcare systems worldwide. From raising awareness in communities to delivering lifesaving vaccines and screenings, their dedication is instrumental in reducing the burden of cervical cancer. However, their work requires continuous support through training, resources, and policy frameworks that prioritize women’s health.

COWLHA’s Commitment

COWLHA remains unwavering in its mission to advocate for equitable healthcare, especially for women and girls living with HIV, who face a higher risk of developing cervical cancer. Our participation in this event is part of a broader effort to promote preventative measures such as HPV vaccination, routine screenings, and access to treatment.

This day served as a call to action—not just for governments and organizations, but for every individual. Eliminating cervical cancer is no longer a distant goal; it is an achievable reality when we work together, amplify survivor voices, and invest in the heroes on the frontline.

Let us honour the courage of women like Emma and the tireless efforts of health workers by turning words into action. And thus creating a world where cervical cancer is a thing of the past.

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