The Eastern Cape Department of Health successfully concluded a five-day free HPV screening and same-day cervical cancer treatment campaign at the Gynaecology Clinic, Frere Hospital in kuGompo City, which ran from 6 to 10 July 2026.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related illness and death among women in South Africa. Yet it is one of the most preventable forms of the disease when detected early and treated before abnormal cells develop into cancer. That reality drove the Department to bring screening and treatment directly to women under one roof, on one visit.

Women who attended the clinic during the campaign received their HPV screening results on the same day. Those who tested positive and met the clinical eligibility criteria were also treated immediately, eliminating the long waiting periods that so often delay care and worsen outcomes.

The campaign specifically targeted women who had never been screened or who were overdue for screening, with the aim of reaching those most at risk of late-stage cervical cancer diagnosis. The Department extended its gratitude to all women who participated and encouraged those who missed the campaign to seek screening through their nearest health facility.

This initiative formed part of the Department's ongoing commitment to strengthening women's health services and advancing the national goal of eliminating cervical cancer as a public health threat through prevention, early detection, and prompt treatment.