Why does Malawi have such high rates of cervical cancer?

What in the World

• Episode: Why does Malawi have such high rates of cervical cancer?
• Website: What in the World
• Feed URL: https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/w13xtvrv.rss
• Duration: 00:10:32
• Published: 2024-10-10 15:30

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a sexually transmitted disease that can cause genital warts but often doesn’t have any symptoms. It’s the leading cause of cervical cancer. The HPV vaccine is available for teenage girls in over 125 countries, but only one in eight girls have had it.

Dorcas Wangira, the BBC’s Africa Health correspondent joins us to discuss the HPV vaccine and how some countries have used the vaccine to reduce their rates of cervical cancer.

Malawi has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer in the world, after Eswatini and Zambia. BBC reporter Ashley Lime, in Kenya, explains why - and tells us how Malawi is trying to improve cervical cancer treatment by installing new radiotherapy machines.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: [email protected] Presenter: Hannah Gelbart Producers: Mora Morrison, Hayley Clarke and Julia Ross-Roy Editor: Verity Wilde