Kilele Health Association members, in partnership with Ultra Runners Kenya and Arch Treks Safaris, during a symbolic Mt. Kenya endurance challenge to raise awareness on cervical cancer elimination. Photo Courtesy of KILELE.
On Monday 17th November 2025, Kenya joined the rest of the world in marking the first World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, a historic step in the fight against one of the most preventable women’s cancers.
To honour the day, KILELE Health Association held a symbolic event on Mt. Kenya to raise awareness and encourage Kenyans to take action against cervical cancer.
In partnership with Ultra Runners Kenya and Arch Treks Safaris, Kilele Health Association organized an intense challenge known as the Mt. Kenya Ultra-Dash. Ten ultra-runners set out to reach Point Lenana, the mountain’s third-highest peak at 15,345 feet, within 10 hours.
The number 10 carried a powerful message, every day, Kenya loses 10 women to cervical cancer.
According to KILELE Health, the climb marked the start of a month-long national campaign urging Kenyans to “Act Now, Eliminate Cervical Cancer” the theme set by the World Health Organization this year.
The message behind the campaign is simple, cervical cancer can be prevented and eventually eliminated if more people get vaccinated, screened, and supported through treatment.
Kenya has made notable progress in recent years. The government introduced the HPV vaccine in 2019 for girls and continues to expand access to HPV testing and treatment in line with WHO’s global elimination targets. In 2025, the country adopted the single-dose HPV vaccination schedule, making it easier for 10-year-old girls to get protected early.
KILELE Health is encouraging Kenyans to contribute to prevention in small but meaningful ways. These include taking girls for the HPV vaccine, encouraging women to go for cervical cancer screening, talking to neighbours and community members about prevention, and supporting women currently undergoing treatment.
Monday’s event also highlighted the wider movement KILELE Health has led throughout the year. Since January, survivors and caregivers have been hiking mountains across Kenya, using storytelling and community engagement to raise awareness. This year’s Ultra-Dash is the fifth in the series, continuing a tradition of combining endurance challenges with health advocacy.
Speaking during the event, Benda Kithaka, Executive Director of KILELE Health Association, said cervical cancer is “preventable, treatable, and eliminable,” but only if the conversation continues.
She praised the runners for dedicating their climb to women affected by the disease and urged the media to provide consistent coverage of HPV vaccination, screening, and survivor stories. “Help us ensure that no woman suffers or dies silently,” she said.
Race Director Nyaruai Muhoro of Ultra Runners Kenya said the partnership with KILELE Health has helped to spread awareness, especially in underserved communities.
She said each of the 10 runners was climbing in honour of a woman they personally know who has battled cervical cancer. Their mission, she added, is to “raise awareness, raise funds, and reduce stigma.”
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally. According to the GLOBOCAN 2022 report, more than 660,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer globally, and over 350,000 lost their lives. In Kenya, 5,845 new cases are diagnosed annually, while 3,591 are lost to the disease.
KILELE Health hopes its campaign will inspire more Kenyans to act because with early prevention and treatment, they said, no woman should be lost to cervical cancer.
