Virtual Conference on Cervical Cancer Elimination in Africa
Overview
When: 19 November 2026, 15:00-18:00 CET
Where: Online
On 17 November 2020, WHO launched its Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer, backed by a resolution of 194 countries. It was the first time the world committed to eliminating a cancer. Every year since, World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day has tracked progress toward the 90-70-90 targets: vaccination, screening and treatment for every girl and woman.
Two days after this year’s WHO activities, the ESGO Prevention Committee is carrying the momentum forward. This is the third year of our virtual conference following up on the WHO initiative. This edition focuses on Africa, the region carrying the heaviest share of the global burden.
Why this conference?
Cervical cancer is preventable and, if detected early, curable. This conference is built as a partnership between African and international experts. Its aim is to exchange evidence and field experience on what it takes to make elimination a reality across African health systems.
Target audience
The conference is for anyone working toward cervical cancer elimination, including but not limited to:
- Gynaecologic oncologists and gynaecologists
- Public health professionals
- Nurses and midwives
- Programme managers and policymakers
- Researchers
- Patient advocates
Scientific programme
Session 1: New trends in HPV vaccination
- The latest evidence on single-dose vaccination, including the KEN SHE study
- Next-generation HPV vaccines
- Country experience from Rwanda, which combines HPV vaccination and screening in adult women
- Country experience from Botswana
Session 2: New trends in screening
- Self-sampling and follow-up of HPV-positive women
- Urine testing and point-of-care HPV tests
- VIA and risk-based screening for limited-resource settings
- Reaching rural and underserved women
- Implementing screening programmes
- Screening women living with HIV
Session 3: New trends in treatment
- AI-assisted colposcopy and portable treatment devices
- See-and-treat algorithms and loss to follow-up
- Diagnostic and treatment barriers in Africa
- Follow-up after treatment
Speakers and faculty
The conference is moderated by Elmar Joura, Chair of the ESGO Prevention Committee, and Murat Gultekin, Past Chair.
The 18-speaker faculty pairs front-line experts from Kenya, Rwanda, Botswana, Ghana, South Africa and Senegal with international leaders from Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Switzerland, Türkiye and the USA.
Registration
You can register for free for the virtual conference via the form below.