The tournament, held in December and organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) alongside the European soccer body, GAVI and several African health ministries, formed part of the Goal Getters campaign. The initiative uses sport to encourage vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), which is responsible for nearly all cervical cancer cases.
“Participating in the tournament was very good because we had to learn and spread the message even though we did not win the finals,” Sooane said while waiting to collect her finalist’s medal. “So it was a good experience.”
Soccer Meets Health Education
Around 200 girls from six countries took part in the CAF Under-17 tournament, which is part of a broader effort to build confidence in the HPV vaccine among young girls and their families. The campaign first launched in Tanzania and Eswatini before moving to Zimbabwe.
HPV vaccines, offered free to girls aged 9 to 14, can prevent up to 90% of cervical cancer cases. GAVI says vaccination also saves families significant treatment costs in later life.
After setbacks from COVID-19 and uneven immunisation programmes, Africa has intensified HPV vaccination campaigns. WHO data shows coverage for at least one HPV dose rose to 40% in 2023, up from 28% the previous year, with Africa trailing only the Americas.
GAVI spokesman Olly Cann said the tournament’s approach is especially effective because it combines two passions of teenage girls: sport and health.
“It creates a really safe space where the girls can feel trusted, they can feel secure, they also feel empowered,” Cann said.
Clinics See Low Uptake Amid Misconceptions
Alongside the tournament, clinics saw mothers bringing children for vaccination—some motivated by the chance to see women’s soccer stars. But the broader picture remains challenging.
In Harare’s Budiriro township, only two 10-year-old girls arrived for vaccination at a local clinic on a recent weekend in January. Health officials say misinformation and religious beliefs remain major barriers.
“Some parents think the injections are a secret family planning method that will prevent their children from having babies,” said Barbara Mashonga, the nurse in charge of community mobilisation at Budiriro Polyclinic. “There are many misconceptions, which is why health education is a major part of the campaign.”
Zimbabwe’s High Cervical Cancer Burden
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women globally, killing about 350,000 women each year, according to the World Health Organization. Africa accounts for nearly a quarter of those deaths, with Zimbabwe among the five countries with the highest burden on the continent.
Zimbabwe introduced a single-dose HPV vaccine ahead of the tournament, a move authorities hope will boost uptake after the previous two-dose programme began in 2018.
Soccer as a Pathway to Better Health
Zimbabwe’s soccer association president, Nqobile Magwizi, said the tournament highlights how sport can strengthen community health.
“We are embracing these opportunities so our communities can become better because of soccer,” Magwizi said as celebrations erupted for tournament winners Mamelodi Sundowns.
For Sooane, the campaign’s impact was clear: “Cancer is a big disease, so every child should get the vaccine so they can be protected. So all of us came here to learn about it so we can keep our health intact.”
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