In northern Benin, Louvain Coopération carried out a large-scale breast and cervical cancer prevention and screening project between 2023 and 2025, initiated by the Mutualités Libres and funded by Wallonie-Bruxelles International. Largely unknown to a large part of the population, these diseases are currently wreaking havoc on the African continent.

According to the WHO, 70,000 deaths from cervical cancer could be prevented each year in Africa through early screening, treatment and prevention through vaccination. "Through this project, we organised training courses for healthcare workers on screening for these cancers. These were refresher courses to enable them to fully understand these diseases and what they involve. Learning to recognise and manage them, depending on their stage of development," explains Pascaline Tiamou N'koué, a midwife in Tanguiéta, a town in north-eastern Benin.

Inform and diagnose

Screening campaigns were organised to detect suspected cases early, carry out confirmatory tests and organise care for positive cases. Upstream, mutual societies provided information to communities about what these diseases are and when and where the screening would take place. ‘We spread the message in various ways: in groups, individually, through the media, on the radio, with posters in health centres, in French and in local languages... Lots of women are coming forward, and that's bringing about a big change,’ continues Pascaline. "We can identify suspected cases and save women who are in the early stages. Before, many of these patients ended up seeing traditional healers, were not referred to the health centre, and ultimately died." A survey of women who received awareness training shows that their knowledge of risk factors and means of prevention for breast cancer increased by 12%, and by 58% for cervical cancer.

Breaking down taboos surrounding sexuality

This project also targeted young people. According to the midwife, ‘In secondary schools, there is a high rate of unwanted teenage pregnancies. Every year, there are around ten cases per school.’

A network of well-trained secondary school students has therefore been set up in secondary schools and vocational training centres. Their mission is to raise awareness among their peers. ‘We talk about menstruation, STIs, adolescence and the changes that can be observed during this period... Young people appreciate these discussions because, very often, they don't have the right information on these subjects,’ says Pascaline.

These actions seem to be bearing fruit, as ‘in 2025, an assessment showed a clear decline in unwanted pregnancies. Our goal is zero cases. We are not there yet, but real progress has been made. In Cobly, for example, no cases were observed during the 2024-2025 school year.’

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