Faith leaders rally behind health investment to tackle maternal, cervical cancer

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 1 – Faith-based organizations across Africa are stepping up their role in public health, with religious leaders pledging support for maternal health and cervical cancer prevention efforts during the Faith in Action Health Conference in Nairobi.

The two-day summit, convened by the Africa Health and Economic Transformation Initiative (AHETI), has brought together religious leaders from various faiths and health sector experts to forge new partnerships aimed at reducing maternal deaths and boosting cervical cancer prevention.

With over 90 percent of Africa’s population adhering to a religious tradition, organizers say faith leaders are uniquely positioned to influence public behavior and drive investment in health infrastructure.

“We are moving from pulpits to public health campaigns,” said Charles Chilufya, AHETI Executive Director.

“Faith leaders have social capital—and now we’re aligning that with financial and political capital to scale impact.”

Kenya currently records 342 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and more than 3,500 cervical cancer deaths annually.

While vaccines such as the HPV shot exist, uptake remains below 30 percent, largely due to misinformation, stigma, and limited access to services.

The conference is focusing on integrating faith-run hospitals and clinics into national healthcare systems, establishing community-based financing models, and advancing public-private partnerships to expand services.

Religious leaders, including senior bishops, Muslim scholars, Protestant and Hindu representatives, and Seventh-day Adventist leaders, are expected to issue formal commitments to support vaccination drives, screening efforts, and maternal health programs.

“We have seen the harm that myths and stigma can cause,” said Hussein Iman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), emphasizing the need for faith-based engagement in health education.

The initiative continues beyond the summit. On May 16–17, a Faith in Action Medical Camp will be held at St. Francis Community Hospital in Kasarani, offering free health services to over 1,000 underserved residents, including consultations, screenings, and health education.

Organizers hope the outcomes will feed into broader efforts to integrate faith institutions into universal health coverage (UHC) frameworks and influence health policy reforms across Africa.