Cancer Dossier: Cervical Cancer Trends in Morocco

Following World Cancer Day, Vitavox Institute looks at the evolution of cervical cancer in Morocco, a major public-health issue. Despite medical progress, this cancer continues to cause harm, with 3,000 new cases and four deaths per day. In a recent article in L'Economiste, Mounira Lourhzal highlighted persistent challenges, including the underuse of the HPV vaccine and the lack of reliable data. Here are three key areas for understanding the situation and taking action.

1. HPV Vaccination: Underused Potential

Introduced free of charge into the national vaccination schedule in 2022, the HPV vaccine represents a significant advance in cervical cancer prevention. However, in 2023, only 18% of available doses were administered, far below the coverage target of 90% planned for 2025.

2. The Challenges of Screening and Data Collection

Another major obstacle in the fight against cervical cancer in Morocco is the absence of a national cancer registry. Without this essential epidemiological tool, it is difficult to precisely assess the incidence and prevalence of the disease. Currently, the figures - estimated at 38.8 cases per 100,000 women over five years - come mainly from oncology centers and do not always reflect the reality of rural or disadvantaged areas.

3. The Human and Economic Losses Linked to Delays in Vaccination

Every day, four Moroccan women die from cervical cancer, an alarming statistic that reflects a human tragedy as well as a heavy economic cost for society. Affected families see their stability destroyed, while the health system bears the burden of high treatment costs.

In addition, the waste of vaccine doses close to expiry or left unused increases this financial pressure. This situation is a reminder of the importance of more efficient resource management and strategic planning.

Analysis and Outlook: A Collective Public-Health Issue

This article raises fundamental questions about the fight against cervical cancer in Morocco.

The three identified areas - HPV vaccination, the challenges linked to screening and data collection, and the human and economic losses linked to vaccination delays - are not only observations, but levers for action that require stronger collaboration between public authorities, health professionals, education stakeholders and civil society.

The article invites us into a necessary debate on several fronts:

1. HPV vaccination: an underused public-health imperative
   Low vaccination coverage is a major obstacle. How can mobilization around this vaccine, despite its strategic importance, move beyond cultural taboos and communication gaps? The question is not only how to distribute doses, but how to create a dynamic of collective trust. How can governments, NGOs and educational institutions join forces to change perceptions of the vaccine and maximize its impact?
2. Screening and data collection: a challenge for effective management
   The lack of precise data on cervical cancer incidence in Morocco reveals a weakness in the epidemiological surveillance system. Is a national cancer registry the answer, or should data collection and analysis methods be rethought to better include rural and disadvantaged areas?
3. The human and economic costs of vaccination delays: a call to action
   Behind every death linked to vaccination delays are serious human and economic consequences. But can these losses be minimized through better resource management and earlier planning? What share of costs could be reduced through a more coordinated and proactive approach to administering vaccines and treatments?

These issues cannot be resolved by a single stakeholder. It is crucial that discussions around these questions involve all concerned actors, from public authorities and local communities to health institutions and economic players. The role of civil society, the media and think tanks such as Vitavox Institute is to stimulate this dialogue, propose innovative solutions and bring these questions onto the national and regional stage.