For many years in Ghana, cervical cancer remained a distant concern,something believed to affect “other women.” Mavis Gyapong Boateng’s story challenges that dangerous illusion. Her journey sits at the critical intersection of risk, awareness, and prevention, offering a powerful reminder that cervical cancer is not only preventable but also manageable when detected early.
Mavis was not diagnosed with cervical cancer. Instead, routine screening revealed precancerous changes, abnormal cells that, if left undiscovered, could have progressed silently into cancer. That moment became a profound wake-up call. If an educated, health-conscious woman working within the public health and regulatory space could unknowingly be at risk, then countless women and girls across Ghana were even more vulnerable.
In Ghana, while many women have heard of cervical cancer, awareness of Human Papillomavirus (HPV),the virus responsible for nearly all cases, remains limited.
Screening rates in many communities are still below 10%. Globally, approximately 85% of cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, largely due to late detection and poor access to preventive services. HPV infection itself is extremely common and unrelated to morality or lifestyle; most people will be exposed at some point in their lives.
During her journey, Mavis encountered deeply rooted myths that continue to keep women away from life-saving care, including the beliefs that HPV vaccination causes infertility, screening is dangerous, or that cervical cancer is a punishment associated with promiscuity. These misconceptions are not just false, they are deadly.
Scientific evidence is clear. The HPV vaccine is safe, effective, and approved by the World Health Organization. It prevents the strains of HPV responsible for the majority of cervical cancer cases. Screening methods, Pap smears, HPV testing, and visual inspection, save lives by detecting abnormalities early, when treatment is most effective and less invasive.
It was against this backdrop of personal experience and stark epidemiological reality that the Maveg Care Foundation was founded. The Foundation’s mission goes beyond awareness; it is rooted in saving lives through education, access, prevention, and early detection. Rather than waiting for women to fall ill, Maveg Care Foundation works proactively with young women, families, schools, health services, and communities to promote HPV vaccination and regular screening. Its work aligns directly with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 (Good Health and Well-being), 4 (Quality Education), 5 (Gender Equality), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
Mavis’s story is one of empowerment, not fear. She did not get cancer; she got early detection and she acted. That experience transformed personal risk into public purpose and continues to fuel her advocacy. Through her work, she amplifies a clear message: cervical cancer is preventable, HPV vaccination is safe, and early screening saves lives.
This is more than a health intervention. It is a movement to replace fear with facts, stigma with science, and loss with prevention. Her journey reminds us that cervical cancer should never be a death sentence. With the right partnerships, political will, and community support, it can become a disease of the past in Ghana and beyond.
Every girl protected.
Every woman informed.
Every life given a fair chance.
About the Author
Mavis Gyapong Boateng is a Public Health Officer, management professional, ISO 9001:2015 QMS Lead Auditor, entrepreneur, and cancer advocate with over fifteen years of progressive experience across the health, sanitation, and food manufacturing sectors. Her expertise spans quality management systems implementation, regulatory compliance, innovation, and strategic leadership.
She currently serves as a Senior Regulatory Officer in the Quality Management Systems Department at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) Ghana Head Office, where she leads and supports risk-based QMS implementation and ensures regulatory compliance to drive continual improvement and operational excellence.
Previously, she held leadership roles as General Manager at XP Resources Ltd and Quality Assurance Manager at Everpure Ghana Ltd, where she played a pivotal role in successfully introducing their maiden products to the Ghanaian market. At Everpure, she initiated the Clean Dispenser Campaign, training staff on effective water dispenser maintenance, resolving a critical sanitation challenge while also generating additional revenue for the company.
Beyond her professional career, Mavis is the Founder and Executive Director of Maveg Group Limited, an event, residential, and commercial cleaning and maintenance services company, and the Founder of Maveg Care Foundation, where she champions cervical cancer prevention through advocacy, awareness creation, screening, and HPV vaccination. Guided by the firm belief that no woman should lose her life to a preventable disease, her work actively contributes to the advancement of SDGs 3, 4, 5, and 17.
#PreventiveHealth #CervicalCancerAwareness #EarlyDetection #HPV