Clinton Health Access Initiative
Scaling up access to cervical cancer prevention in Zambia and Zimbabwe
Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable, yet it remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths for women in Zambia and Zimbabwe—two countries with some of the highest cervical cancer burdens in the world.
Through our partnership with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), we are working alongside the Ministries of Health in Zambia and Zimbabwe to expand screening, scale HPV vaccination, and integrate innovative tools to strengthen healthcare systems.
Our impact to date
In rural Zimbabwe, our partnership has already helped 12,500 women access cervical cancer screenings—a 34% increase in first-time screenings from the previous year. CHAI has trained 323 local healthcare workers to deliver HPV self-sampling, engaged 570 community leaders in awareness efforts, and piloted AI-driven screening tools to enhance early detection.
Expanding proven solutions
By 2027, this initiative aims to:
- Provide 143,000 women with cervical cancer screenings
- Increase HPV vaccination coverage to 85% of girls aged 9-10 in Zimbabwe
- Integrate cervical cancer screening with family planning for 16,400 women in Zambia
Advancing innovation in healthcare
AI-driven screening tools are being scaled to improve early detection, laboratory systems are being strengthened for faster and more accurate testing, and self-sampling kits are expanding to make screening more accessible.
A vision for a cancer-free future
By supporting local health systems, community-led engagement, and innovative solutions, this partnership aligns with the WHO’s 2030 cervical cancer elimination strategy. If you’d like to learn more, visit https://www.clintonhealthaccess.org/our-programs/cervical-cancer/.
