Naema Celestine 
Elizabeth Kisiangani
Cervical cancer awareness is a global event celebrated in January as it seeks to raise public awareness about cervical cancer and provides education about prevention,the importance of screening and treatment.
According to the World Health Organisation; cervical cancer is the 6th most common cancer in women where it is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Kenya with an estimated 3,200 deaths in 2020.
Kenya Human papilloma virus and related cancers fact sheet 2023 current estimates indicate that every year 5,236 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,211 die from the disease where HPV is a common sexually transmitted viral infection among women and men.
A 61 year old Mercy Wamboi vividly remember the year 2017 as if it was yesterday,she recalls bleeding profusely every 2 weeks leaving her with more questions than answers. Despite several prescriptions over time only proper tests revealed that Mercy had cervical cancer.
Despite tells and sites of cancer patients that seems cary to her,mercy recalls the tough cervical treatment journey that included several chemotherapy setions.
Therefore,90% of women presents themselves for treatment when it’s too late. However,with the World Health Organisation,it calls girls to be vaccinated against HPV viruses.
