Faith leaders across Africa are stepping up as powerful advocates in the fight against critical health challenges affecting women in underserved communities; Cervical Cancer and Maternal & Child mortality.

At a two-day conference held from 30 April to 1 May 2025 at Roussel House, Donum Dei, Karen, Nairobi, Religious Leaders from Catholic, Protestant, and Muslim communities gathered alongside Healthcare Experts and Policymakers to address these critical health challenges, and to explore the role of faith driven advocacy and service delivery in improving healthcare outcomes.

The conference, convened by the Africa Health and Economic Transformative Initiative (AHETI) and Catholic Diocese Health Coordinators in collaboration with strategic partners including KILELE Health Association and the Africa Cervical Health Alliance (ACHA), was themed “Uniting Faith Leaders for Maternal & Child Health and Cervical Cancer Prevention.”  

Addressing Alarming Health Statistics

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Africa accounts for nearly 20% of the world’s cervical cancer cases, with over 119,000 new cases and 81,000 deaths annually. Maternal mortality remains high, with Africa’s rate at 542 deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly above the Sustainable Development Goal target of fewer than 70 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030. These statistics underscore the urgent need for collaborative efforts to improve health outcomes.

The Role of Faith Leaders in Health Advocacy

Archbishop Philip Anyolo of the Catholic Archdiocese of Nairobi, the conference’s chief guest, emphasized the influential role of faith leaders in shaping health behaviors.

“Faith leaders are both influential and deeply trusted in their communities,” Archbishop Anyolo stated. “Recognizing this, they have the power to dispel myths and misinformation surrounding cervical cancer, HPV vaccination, and maternal health. They can promote early screening and preventive care, share accurate information, and coordinate faith-led interventions in partnership with both the public and private sectors.”

Father Charles Chilufya, AHETI Director, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the capacity of faith-based communities to mobilize resources and advocate for inclusive healthcare policies.

“Faith communities need to explore human dignity on our call to God. We must put our faith into action. With our influence, we can harness resources and networks to bolster health initiatives at the grassroots level,” Father Chilufya remarked.

Ms. Benda Kithaka, Executive Director of KILELE Health Association, called for strengthened partnerships between faith leaders, government institutions, and healthcare providers to achieve the WHO’s 90-70-90 targets for cervical cancer elimination.

“We’re calling on governments and the private sector to partner, allocate funding, and co-create faith-driven health solutions to scale impact,” Ms. Kithaka urged.

Conference Outcomes and Commitments

The two-day conference culminated in the drafting of a Faith Leaders Declaration, a collective commitment to champion maternal and child health, increase HPV vaccination rates, and advocate for cervical cancer screening across communities. Among the key commitments were pledges to:

• Integrate cervical cancer and maternal health messaging in sermons
• Host faith-led medical camps
• Advocate for policies that embed cervical cancer prevention and maternal health services into routine faith-based programs.
• Mobilize faith-based resources for prevention, treatment & advocacy
• Advocate for gender equity & health justice
• Amplify survivor voices to inspire hope and break stigma

From Dialogue to Action: Medical Camp at St. Francis Hospital

Building on the commitments made at the conference, the leaders hosted a Medical Camp on 16–17 April 2025 at St Francis Community Hospital, Kasarani. This free camp offered health services on Cervical Cancer Screening, HPV Vaccinations, Gynaecology Consultations, Eye and Dental check-ups for underserved communities.

Objectives of the Medical Camp:

1. Deliver free, high-quality healthcare services to underserved communities.
2. Promote awareness and preventive care in maternal and child health, cervical cancer, gynecology, and eye health.
3. Foster collaboration between healthcare providers, policymakers, donors, and private sector actors to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Africa.
4. Highlight the vital role of faith communities in influencing health-seeking behavior and ensuring equitable access to care.

This free medical camp exemplified the practical application of faith-driven advocacy, bringing essential health services closer to those in need and reinforcing the commitment of faith and health systems to ensure dignity, healing, and hope for all.

A Path Forward

The Faith in Action Conference and subsequent medical camp represent a significant step toward integrating faith leadership into health advocacy and service delivery. By turning pulpits into platforms for change and blending compassion with action, faith leaders are poised to dismantle barriers and uplift every mother, child, and family.