During a panel discussion organised on 26 September by the World Health Organization (WHO) on cervical cancer elimination, Gracia Violeta Ross, WCC programme executive for HIV, Reproductive Health, and Pandemics, emphasized the critical role of faith leaders in addressing health challenges, including cervical cancer and HIV, within their communities.

Speaking at the event taking place at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Ross highlighted the unique position of religious leaders. 

"In places where there is no hospital or clinic, you will often find a church or mosque present. Faith leaders have the trust capital we need to disseminate critical health information," Ross stated.

She also discussed the importance of adapting public health messages into theological language to encourage faith leaders to take action. "We remind religious leaders that caring for women is part of the mandate given in the Bible. It’s about transforming public health knowledge into theological terms, which helps dispel stigma and motivate action against gender-based violence, HIV, and cervical cancer."

Ross urged that commitments made in global strategies, such as those in Cartagena, must be translated into tangible actions. "I have had to attend the funerals of many women who were living with HIV but died because they couldn’t access treatment or timely diagnosis. We must turn our commitments into realities for women and girls. Women living with HIV are six times more likely to develop cervical cancer than women not living with HIV "

The co-moderator of the event, Benda Kithaka, founder and executive director of KILELE Health Association and Secretariat Lead – African Cervical Health Alliance, emphasized the power of faith leaders in transforming communities' understanding of cervical cancer. She shared her experience from a recent gathering where over 100 religious leaders came together to discuss the intersection of faith and science. By demystifying cervical cancer and addressing the fears that often stem from a lack of understanding, the leaders were able to create a call to action. 

"People fear what they don't understand," Kithaka explained, highlighting how engaging survivors and religious leaders helped shift the narrative. She noted that these leaders are pivotal in incorporating the message into their teachings and mobilizing communities to take action against cervical cancer​.

The WCC's efforts include creating encounters between religious leaders and survivors of violence, cancer, and HIV, fostering a deeper understanding of the health issues affecting their congregations. These interactions, Ross explained, have transformed the perspectives of many faith leaders, compelling them to advocate for better health services for women.

The session concluded with a call for strengthened partnerships among civil society, governments, and faith communities to eliminate cervical cancer and ensure that no woman dies due to preventable health conditions.