Investing in the health of women and girls

In Lesotho, as in many African countries, women and girls are the foundation of families, communities and economies. When women thrive, societies prosper. Yet, too often, unhealthy and entrenched societal norms and expectations mean that women’s health and well-being are neglected and their potential stifled. This is a tragedy for women and a drag on the progress of entire nations.
Healthy women and girls drive progress. They are more likely to access education, participate in the workforce and invest in the next generation. Yet preventable diseases that only affect women, like cervical cancer, remain a major barrier to their empowerment.
Each year, more than 350,000 women globally — mostly in low- and middle-income countries — lose their lives to cervical cancer. In 2022, there were more than 125,000 cases and 80,000 deaths in Africa caused by this single disease. This is not just a health crisis, it is a failure to deliver justice and equity to women and girls.
The good news is that we have the tools to eliminate cervical cancer entirely, starting with widespread access to the HPV vaccine. And in Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, Africa has a partner that is committed to accelerating that access.
Over the past two decades, Gavi, backed by donors and partners including Saudi Arabia, has supported the transformation of health outcomes across Africa, including Lesotho, by ensuring that life-saving vaccines reach millions of children. This partnership directly and positively impacts the health of women and girls, and that directly impacts the health and development of societies and economies.
Thanks to Gavi’s support, Lesotho, along with 26 other countries in Africa, has introduced the HPV vaccine. Together, more than 20.2 million girls have been reached, averting more than 551,000 deaths from cervical cancer.

Preventable diseases that only affect women, like cervical cancer, remain a major barrier to their empowerment. 

Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso and Dr. Sania Nishtar

The pace of HPV vaccination is accelerating. Globally, Gavi’s HPV revitalization program facilitated the immunization of more than 14 million girls in 2023 — more than the previous 10 years combined. And even more girls are expected to have been reached with Gavi’s support in 2024.
In Lesotho, we have so far reached about 44 percent of the girls who are eligible to get the vaccine. This has widespread implications for gender equity, education and economic growth. By safeguarding their health, we are giving girls the chance to dream bigger, aim higher and contribute meaningfully to society.
The partnership between African countries and Gavi is a model of what equitable global collaboration can achieve. Since its inception in 2000, Gavi has supported the immunization of more than 1.1 billion children worldwide, including some 469 million children in Africa. This has contributed to halving child mortality and preventing millions of deaths among women and children.
In Lesotho, this partnership has extended beyond vaccines and has helped address systemic health challenges through innovation. Solar-powered health facilities have improved vaccine distribution, even to Lesotho’s most remote mountain communities. These advances are not only saving lives but also laying the groundwork for a more resilient healthcare system.
While African countries are increasingly contributing to the cost of immunization, the journey toward full self-reliance is not yet complete. Since 2008, African nations have collectively invested more than $940 million in Gavi-supported programs. But sustaining this momentum depends on continued donor commitment.
This is a critical moment. Gavi’s replenishment for its next five-year cycle will determine whether countries like Lesotho can continue to protect their populations — especially women and girls — from preventable diseases. A failure to invest now would not only jeopardize decades of progress but also close the door to the brighter, healthier future that is within our grasp.
When we invest in women and girls, we invest in a healthier, safer and more prosperous world. To Gavi’s donors, our message is simple: stay the course. Your support has been instrumental in saving lives and empowering women and girls across Africa. Let us continue this journey together, ensuring that no girl grows up fearing diseases that we can prevent. Give every woman and girl the chance to reach her full potential and build a better future for Africa and the world.

• Masenate Mohato Seeiso is Queen of the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.
• Dr. Sania Nishtar is CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.