Mission 2027

Mission 2027 -A Bold Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer in Rwanda

Mission 2027 is a national mass screening campaign aimed at reaching 70% screening coverage for HPV and ensuring 90% timely treatment for precancerous lesions and cervical cancer. To date, 28% of eligible women have been screened, with an additional 900,000 women awaiting screening to help achieve this critical target. Rwanda has already vaccinated over 90% of girls by the age of 15 and is now accelerating efforts in other critical areas to meet WHO’s goals for screening and treatment. This focus is not only essential for Rwanda but also for other low- and middle-income countries that need much more attention worldwide.

On Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action in 2024, the Minister of Health in Rwanda and the Elekta Foundation officially announced their endorsement of the Mission 2027 campaign. This ambitious initiative aims to make Rwanda the first country in Africa to eliminate cervical cancer.

The innovative program includes cutting edge technology to support diagnosis and treatment. Between 2025 to 2027, there will be an intense focus on screening women for HPV and treating those where cancer is detected.

To eliminate cervical cancer globally, the World Health Organization (WHO)
has outlined key targets in its Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem: by 2030

-90% of girls should be vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15,
-70% of women should be screened for HPV between the ages of 35 and 45,
-90% of women with cervical pre-cancer or cancer should receive appropriate treatment. 

These targets aim to reduce the global burden of cervical cancer
and save countless lives.

District by District

Rwanda consists of 30 districts, necessitating a district-by-district approach during the elimination phase. The Elekta Foundation and its partners have conducted screening and treatment in several districts, including Gicumbi, Kayonza, Karongi, Rubavu, and Nyabihu. Among its various commitments, the Elekta Foundation aims to screen 700,000 women, provide a team of health experts, and ensure good nutrition for women during treatment and recovery periods as part of comprehensive efforts.

Screening will take place in several districts during 2025. Two of these districts are Bugesera and Kicukiro, both located in the central part of Rwanda, with a combined screening population of 77,000 women.

"We are prepared to eliminate cervical cancer in Rwanda and beyond"

Lacy Hubbard, President of the Elekta Foundation, highlights the crucial need for international collaboration: “We are deeply grateful for the partnership with the Rwanda Ministry of Health and their steadfast dedication to this mission. We now seek to engage with international development agencies, the private sector, and civil society to support Mission2027. With the financial backing of these partners, we can eliminate cervical cancer and secure a healthier future for all women in Rwanda and beyond”.

"Collaboration is needed to eliminate cervical cancer"

During his keynote speech at the launch of Mission 2027 in Kigali in February 2025, Dr. Prebo Barengo, Cross-Cutting Specialist for Noncommunicable Diseases at WHO, emphasized the urgent need for countries to redouble their efforts in eliminating cervical cancer. He highlighted that there are only five years remaining to achieve the goal set by WHO member states in 2020 to eradicate this cancer. Dr. Barengo stressed the importance of increased collaboration among countries and the need to intensify screening and treatment efforts. He also noted that recent innovative medical solutions will be game-changers, making these efforts more successful and cost-efficient.

Main partners

The Foundation collaborates with key partners that acknowledge the importance of joining forces to tackle cervical cancer:

Rwandan Ministry of Health

Rwanda Biomedical Center

Rwanda Society for Family Health

Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)

Partners In Health