The African Cervical Health Alliance (ACHA) officially unveiled the ACHA ASPIRE Cervical Health Scorecard on 24th November 2025, a civil society-led accountability tool designed to track progress, identify gaps, and accelerate Africa’s journey towards achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) 90-70-90 cervical cancer elimination targets.
The unveiling, held virtually in commemoration of the inaugural Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, brought together policymakers, civil society organizations, development partners, health experts, and advocates from across Africa and beyond. The event marked a significant milestone in strengthening accountability and evidence-based action in the fight against cervical cancer.
The ACHA ASPIRE Scorecard is the culmination of more than two years of collaboration between ACHA, Cancer Research UK (CRUK), FIND, KILELE Health, the ACHA ASPIRE Working Group, and a team of consultants. Developed through extensive literature reviews, stakeholder consultations, indicator selection, and digital innovation, the tool provides a visual and interactive platform for assessing progress across key cervical cancer elimination indicators.
The Scorecard tracks performance in four critical areas: HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, treatment and care, and governance and policy. Using a simple color-coded system; red, yellow, and green, it enables stakeholders to quickly identify areas of progress and gaps requiring urgent action.
Speaking during the launch, ACHA Secretariat Lead, Benda Kithaka, highlighted the importance of civil society in driving the cervical cancer elimination agenda across the continent.
“ACHA was established to unite grassroots organizations and advocates working towards cervical cancer elimination. Through the ASPIRE Scorecard, we are providing a tool that empowers civil society, governments, and partners to track progress, strengthen accountability, and drive meaningful action,” she said.
Benda noted that ACHA currently comprises 32 member organizations across 16 African countries and works with more than 155 health advocates to advance cervical cancer elimination through advocacy, capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and technical support.
Strong Support from Africa CDC and WHO AFRO
The unveiling received strong endorsements from both Africa CDC and the WHO Regional Office for Africa (WHO AFRO), signaling growing momentum for collaborative efforts towards cervical cancer elimination.
Representing Africa CDC, Betty Ingabire commended ACHA for its leadership in mobilizing civil society organizations across Africa and emphasized the importance of community engagement in achieving elimination targets.
“Africa CDC sees the ACHA ASPIRE Scorecard as complementary to ongoing continental efforts. Community trust, engagement, and oversight remain critical components of cervical cancer elimination,” she said.
Africa CDC further expressed its commitment to collaborate with ACHA and ensure that efforts are aligned to strengthen, rather than duplicate, existing initiatives.
WHO AFRO also pledged technical support for the initiative. Dr. Issimouha congratulated ACHA for transforming cervical cancer elimination into a social movement and emphasized the value of the Scorecard’s comprehensive indicator framework.
“The period between 2026 and 2030 represents a decisive window for cervical cancer elimination. WHO AFRO stands ready to work with ACHA, governments, civil society, and partners to ensure the Scorecard informs action and accelerates progress,” he noted.
A Tool for Accountability and Action
During the presentation of the Scorecard, lead consultant Nicholas Mwenda demonstrated how the platform enables users to visualize country performance across multiple indicators through interactive dashboards and maps.
The Scorecard was designed not to create competition among countries, but rather to foster peer learning, encourage evidence-based decision-making, and strengthen accountability mechanisms.
Participants welcomed the tool while highlighting the need for robust country-level validation mechanisms and strong national ownership of data. Discussions underscored the importance of ensuring that governments, civil society organizations, and technical partners work collaboratively to validate and use data responsibly.
Stakeholders agreed that country ownership will be critical to ensuring the Scorecard becomes an effective and sustainable accountability mechanism.
Next Steps: Piloting in Three African Countries
Following the launch, ACHA announced that the ASPIRE Scorecard will enter its pilot phase between January and March 2026 in Kenya, Malawi, and Cameroon.
The three countries were selected based on disease burden, existing cervical cancer programming, and varying stages of implementation. The pilot phase will provide an opportunity to test and refine the indicators, strengthen data validation processes, and build country-level capacity for implementation.
ACHA will also continue engaging stakeholders, training advocates, and establishing technical structures to support the Scorecard’s sustainability and future expansion across the continent.
As part of the next phase, participants were encouraged to review the Scorecard, provide feedback, and share the tool with relevant networks and government stakeholders. Feedback collected will help refine the platform before broader rollout.
Advancing Africa’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Agenda
The unveiling of the ACHA ASPIRE Cervical Health Scorecard represents a significant step towards strengthening accountability in cervical cancer elimination efforts across Africa. By combining evidence, advocacy, and collaboration, the tool provides governments, civil society organizations, and partners with a practical mechanism for tracking progress and driving action.
With strong support from Africa CDC, WHO AFRO, and a growing network of partners, ACHA is positioning the Scorecard as a catalyst for data-driven decision-making and collective action toward a future where cervical cancer is no longer a public health threat on the continent.
For more information about the ACHA ASPIRE Cervical Health Scorecard and upcoming pilot activities, visit www.acha.africa.
