Nearly 200,000 women in Gauteng underwent cervical cancer screening during the past financial year, marking a significant increase in the number of women accessing a service that can detect potentially dangerous changes before they develop into cancer.
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) recorded 198,611 screenings during the 2025/26 financial year, compared with 153,703 the year before. That means 44,908 more women were screened — a 29% increase.
For health officials, the figures are encouraging. But behind the statistics is a more important message: cervical cancer can often be prevented or treated successfully when it is detected early.
During the National Women’s Day commemoration held at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday, 9 August, Gauteng Health and Wellness MEC Faith Mazibuko said the increase showed the difference that information and access to healthcare can make.
“The increase is encouraging, but our work will continue until every eligible woman understands the importance of screening and can access the service,” said Mazibuko.
The province attributed the rise largely to awareness campaigns introduced across all five districts from the third quarter of the 2025/26 financial year. West Rand recorded the biggest improvement, while Ekurhuleni has been identified as an area requiring further efforts to encourage women to come forward for screening.
The World Health Organization (WHO) considers cervical cancer one of the cancers that can be prevented and treated effectively when the right interventions are available.
The WHO has set a 90-70-90 target for 2030. This means 90% of girls should be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, 70% of women should be screened with a high-performance test by age 35 and again by 45, and 90% of women identified with cervical disease should receive appropriate treatment.
The organisation has also stressed that screening programmes must be linked to effective follow-up and treatment. Detecting an abnormality is only useful if a woman can then access the care she needs.
Prevention starts with young girls
The province is also focusing on prevention among younger girls, before they reach the age when cervical cancer screening becomes a routine part of healthcare.
During the 2025/26 financial year, 72,249 Grade 5 girls at public schools and a further 9,740 in independent schools received HPV vaccinations.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common infection, and persistent infection with high-risk HPV types is responsible for almost all cervical cancer cases. Vaccinating girls before they are exposed to the virus can significantly reduce their risk of developing HPV-related cancers later in life.
As part of the vaccination drive, the Integrated School Health Programme (ISHP) will run from 3 August to 9 October at participating independent primary schools across Gauteng.
Gauteng Health spokesperson Steve Mabona told Student Living SA that HPV vaccination and awareness programmes remain a key part of the province’s prevention efforts. He urged eligible women to undergo regular screening and seek medical attention as soon as they notice possible warning signs.
“Women are encouraged to seek medical attention if they experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. Parents are urged to sign the consent forms for the administration of the HPV vaccination at schools,” Mabona said.
“The HPV vaccine used in the public health programme, Cervarix, is safe and highly effective in protecting against these high-risk strains.”
The department also plans to strengthen community outreach by training Ward-Based Primary Health Care Outreach Teams to take information about cervical cancer prevention and screening directly to households.
This could be particularly important for women who struggle to reach health facilities, are unaware of available screening services or delay seeking care because they feel healthy.
For Gauteng, the challenge now is to maintain the momentum behind the 29% increase in screening while reaching women in areas where uptake remains low.
Ultimately, the success of the province’s cervical cancer programme will not be measured only by the number of women screened, but by whether those who need further care can access it — and whether prevention and early detection translate into lives saved.
