Mobilizing women across Africa for the elimination of cervical cancer
Health4Life Fund has announced a long-term partnership with the Africa Federation of Soroptimist International, a global grassroots women’s organization, to advocate, raise awareness, and mobilize funds to eliminate cervical cancer across Africa. Last month, some 1,700 Soroptimists from the organization’s five federations gathered in Dublin, Ireland where they had the opportunity to hear more about this exciting collaboration. Members from all continents shared personal and often very poignant stories highlighting a common desire to put an end to cervical cancer.
UNFPA and the Health4Life Secretariat both spoke at the event to highlight the need for urgent action on cervical cancer and the important role Soroptimists can play. The workshops served to rally women across the worldwide Soroptimist network to raise funds for joint action in Africa and promote the importance of vaccination, regular screening, and early treatment everywhere. The partnership, in support of country-level joint action toward the 90/70/90 goals of the WHO cervical cancer elimination strategy, aims to put women and adolescent girls at the heart of this fight and make this invisible disease increasingly visible.
Photo caption: Connie Mutunhu, Immediate Past President, Soroptimist International Africa Federation (SIAF) opens the second workshop session on 28 July 2023 during the quadrennial Soroptimist International Convention in Dublin. Seated (L to R): Linda Merieau, Health4Life Fund Partnerships Lead; Jalila Moufqia, President, SIAF; Petra tenhoope-Bender, Technical Adviser Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, UNFPA.
For further information contact HUBBARD MERIEAU, Linda Lee