Faith Leaders Unite in Nairobi to Combat Maternal and Cervical Cancer Crisis Across Africa

Faith Leaders Unite in Nairobi to Combat Maternal and Cervical Cancer Crisis Across Africa

By Stella Ranji 

Nairobi, Kenya | April 30, 2025 — In a historic and urgent appeal to protect the lives of women across Africa, religious and health leaders have convened in Nairobi for the Faith in Action Health Conference, an unprecedented interfaith initiative to confront two of the continent’s most preventable yet deadly health crises: maternal mortality and cervical cancer.

Organized by the Africa Health and Economic Transformation Initiative (AHETI), the two-day summit brings together Catholic bishops, Muslim scholars, Protestant pastors, Hindu representatives, Seventh-day Adventist leaders, and global health experts to forge a collaborative path forward in accelerating life-saving interventions.

“With over 90% of Africa’s population identifying with a faith tradition, religious leaders are uniquely positioned to influence health-seeking behavior,” said Fr. Charles Chilufya, S.J., Executive Director of AHETI. “We are moving from pulpits to public health campaigns.”

At the center of discussions are bold strategies to expand HPV vaccination, boost maternal healthcare access, and promote early screening for cervical cancer—a disease that claims over 3,500 lives annually in Kenya alone. Despite the availability of preventive tools, national uptake of the HPV vaccine remains below 30%, hindered by misinformation, stigma, and limited access in underserved communities.

“As shepherds of our communities, we must not only preach about dignity and life—we must protect it,” said Most Rev. Philip Anyolo, Archbishop of Nairobi and the conference’s chief guest. “This moment demands more than prayer; it demands action.”

Kenya’s maternal mortality rate stands at 342 deaths per 100,000 live births, a grim indicator of the urgent need for stronger systems. Religious institutions, which operate a significant portion of Africa’s healthcare infrastructure, are now being called to step deeper into public health roles.

Dr. Hussein Iman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) emphasized, “Faith leaders must be part of the solution—championing awareness, acceptance, and access.”


Expected Outcomes of the Conference Include:

Concrete, faith-based commitments to support HPV vaccination, maternal care, and screening

Resource mobilization to strengthen faith-run healthcare infrastructure

Integration of faith-run institutions into national health systems

Interfaith collaboration to achieve universal health coverage (UHC)

The Faith in Action Health Conference builds on the momentum of the 2024 Nairobi Convening on Faith and Science and signals a turning point—moving from dialogue to direct community-based interventions.

“We have seen the harm that myths and stigma can cause,” said Dr. Iman. “But with faith leaders as allies, we can reshape the narrative—and save lives.”

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