Physical Health Mali Project #7509

HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention for West Africa

by GAIA Vaccine Foundation

HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention for West Africa

Project Report | Oct 13, 2026
Transforming Women's Health in Mali

By Laura Atran-Fresco | Grant Writer and Communication Consultant

In Mali, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women, yet it is almost entirely preventable. Thousands of women and girls face unnecessary risk because of limited education about the direct link between HPV and cervical cancer, low screening rates, and limited access to affordable care, particularly for low-income families.

Through our Free HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program, we are changing that reality across five community health centers, known locally as ASACOs, in Commune I of Bamako. Rather than waiting for women to come to the clinics, our trained Community Health Workers (CHWs) meet community members where they live, work, and gather, delivering mobile HPV vaccinations and awareness sessions in homes, schools, markets, and places of worship. This proactive outreach helps overcome geographic and cultural barriers, connecting women directly with health education as well as referrals for cervical cancer screening and essential care at the health centers.

The direct impact of your support

In 2025 alone, across our five ASACOs in Commune I of Bamako:

6,319 young girls received the single-dose HPV vaccine
10,115 free screenings were delivered across our clinic network, detecting and treating precancerous lesions before they escalate
19,711 community members were reached through culturally grounded education and outreach, giving families the knowledge they need to protect against HPV and cervical cancer
16 CHWs were recruited and trained to drive ongoing awareness and vaccine adoption at the community level

Why your continued support matters

These numbers show remarkable progress, but the need for accessible care continues to grow. Your support sustains these local health partnerships, expands vaccine coverage, and helps us deliver proactive care to more women and children before cervical cancer advances.

How your support makes a difference:

$10: provides a potentially life-saving cervical cancer screening to one woman in Mali
$15: provides essential treatment for 1 woman with precancerous lesions
$25: provides all of the supplies needed for cervical cancer screenings for 5 women
$100: covers the salary of a doctor providing cervical cancer screenings for an entire month!

With early detection and timely care, cervical cancer is preventable. Thank you for standing with the women and families of Mali. Your generosity powers this ongoing transformation.

Links:

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May 22, 2026
Education and Intervention, Leads to Prevention!

By Anja Schneider | Content and Community Manager

In Mali, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer affecting ]women, and also one of the most preventable. Yet thousands of women remain at risks due to several barriers, including:

Limited education about the link between HPV and cervical cancer;
Low rates of prevention and screening;
And a lack of access to affordable healthcare, which is especially an issue for low-income communities.

To address these challenges, we implemented our Free HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Bamako and Sikoro, Mali. This multifaceted program addresses the barriers that prevent women from accessing the care they need.

Through specialized training of our medical staff, community-based research, and public education campaigns, we are working to reduce cervical cancer rates and promote HPV vaccination among young girls. We have also partnered with community health care workers (CHWs) and local women’s associations to deliver outreach sessions that raise awareness among women and girls.

The impact of this work is already evident.

In 2025, our Sikoro clinic saw 1,253 clients for FREE cervical cancer exams, while our Banconi clinic delivered 2,304 free screenings. Combined with ongoing community education and healthcare training, these screenings are helping detect and treat cervical abnormalities before they become cancerous.

With your help, we can expand our reach and save even more lives. With early detection and timely care, cervical cancer is preventable.

How Your Support Makes a Difference:

$10: provides a potentially life-saving cervical cancer screening to one woman in Mali
$15: provides essential treatment for 1 woman with precancerous lesions
$25: provides all of the supplies needed for cervical cancer screenings for 5 women
$100: covers the salary of a doctor providing cervical cancer screenings for an entire month!

We are incredibly thankful for the support of our donors! Your generosity makes this work possible, and helps create healthier futures for women and families across Mali.

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Jan 21, 2026
From Education to Prevention

By Anja Schneider | Content and Community Manager

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Mali and the second most frequent cancer among women aged 15–44. According to recent data, this high prevalence is driven by limited education about the link between HPV and cervical cancer, low rates of prevention and screening, and a lack of access to affordable healthcare—particularly for low-income women.

To address these challenges, GAIA Vaccine Foundation has implemented a free HPV and Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Mali. This program integrates community-based research, medical staff training, and public education to reduce cancer rates and promote HPV vaccination among young girls.

Our work includes conducting surveys to better understand local knowledge and attitudes towards HPV and cervical cancer among local populations. We have trained health personnel in clinics across Commune I of Bamako on HPV prevention, screening, and treatment in order to expand our breadth of care. GAIA Vaccine Foundation has also partnered with community health workers (CHWs) and women’s associations to deliver outreach sessions that raise awareness among women and girls.

By offering free cervical cancer screenings and treatment to low-income women, GAIA Vaccine Foundation is helping bridge gaps in Mali’s limited healthcare infrastructure. With early detection and timely care, cervical cancer is preventable—and lives can be saved.

How Your Support Makes a Difference:

$10: provides a potentially life-saving cervical cancer screening to one woman in Mali
$15: provides essential treatment for 1 woman with precancerous lesions
$25: provides all of the supplies needed for cervical cancer screenings for 5 women
$100: covers the salary of a doctor providing cervical cancer screenings for an entire month!

We are incredibly appreciative of your support, without which we would not be able to expand our programs. Thank you!

Links:

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