ZAMBIA: Catholic Women in Zambia Urged to Combat Cervical Cancer in Light of Women’s Day
AMECEA Chairman Bishop Charles Joseph Sampa Kasonde of Solwezi Zambia
Sandra Kunda
The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has urged the Catholic Women’s Organization to take a stand against cervical cancer.
In a press statement, ZCCB Vice President, who is also the Bishop of Solwezi Diocese Rt. Rev. Charles J.S Kasonde revealed that the tragic loss of his sister to cervical cancer fuels his determination to combat the disease.
Bishop Kasonde emphasized the Church’s moral responsibility to care for the suffering, quoting Gaudium et Spes: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men and women of this age… these are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the followers of Christ.”
In Zambia, cervical cancer remains a major public health crisis, claiming approximately 3,300 lives annually, equivalent to nine women each day.
The bishop described these figures not just as statistics but as an urgent call to action. He highlighted the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 90-70-90 strategy, which aims to eliminate cervical cancer through HPV vaccinations for 90% of girls by age 15, screenings for 70% of women by age 45, and effective treatment for 90% of those diagnosed.
Bishop Kasonde urged Catholic women to champion this strategy within their communities.
“As people of faith, we are called to protect life. By advocating for HPV vaccination and routine screenings, we are not only living our faith but actively working to prevent the unnecessary loss of our mothers, daughters, and sisters,” he said.
Bishop Kasonde has since expressed a sense of hope that Zambia can have a future where no family has to endure the pain of losing a loved one to a preventable disease.
The bishop conveyed the message in light of the women’s day celebrations, which fall on Saturday 8th, March.
