HopeScan Initiative delivers early-detection screening and patient navigation programs across sub-Saharan West Africa, with a focus on the cancers that carry the greatest burden in our communities: cervical, breast, and prostate. Each program pairs accessible screening with education and a clear path to treatment so patients aren’t left waiting once a diagnosis is confirmed.
Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it remains a leading cause of cancer death among women in sub-Saharan West Africa. Nearly all cases are caused by persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV).
However, limited access to HPV vaccination, cervical cancer screening, and early treatment means many women are diagnosed only after the disease has progressed.
Without expanded prevention and early-detection programs, cervical cancer cases and deaths in the region are projected to rise significantly by 2050, despite that the disease is largely preventable through vaccination and routine screening.
Breast cancer is now the most diagnosed cancer among women in sub-Saharan West Africa and a leading cause of cancer-related death.
In countries with strong screening systems, survival rates are significantly higher. Yet many women across West Africa face late diagnosis, limited access to mammography and clinical screening, and barriers to treatment.
As populations grow and age, the number of new breast cancer cases is expected to increase sharply through 2050, underscoring the urgent need for accessible, community-based early detection and care navigation programs.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men in sub-Saharan West Africa, with some of the highest mortality rates in the world.
Men of African ancestry face a greater risk of developing aggressive forms of prostate cancer, yet access to screening, early diagnosis, and treatment remains limited across many communities.
Between 2020 and 2050, prostate cancer cases in the region are projected to rise dramatically, placing increasing strain on already limited healthcare resources and highlighting the urgent need for expanded screening and care access.
