Benin/Sexual and reproductive health: The government launches 5 days of free planning and screening for women's cancers

The Minister of Health, Prof. Benjamin HOUNKPATIN, officially launched the national family planning campaign coupled with cervical and breast cancer screening on Tuesday March 31, 2026. The ceremony took place at the Sèmè-Podji communal stadium, in the presence of the Prefect of the Ouémé department, Dr Marie AKPOTROSSOU, political and administrative authorities, and representatives of WHO and UNFPA.

Several days of activism in favor of Beninese women's health are underway. Through this campaign, the Government intends to accelerate positive indicators of contraceptive prevalence and facilitate early detection of female cancers. Health centers are waiting to welcome them, to offer them free contraceptive methods adapted to their needs, and to facilitate the early detection of cervical and breast cancers.

For the Minister of Health, the combination of offering a full range of contraceptive products free of charge and screening for cervical, uterine and breast cancers is a commendable initiative.For the Minister of Health, the combination of offering a full range of free contraceptive products and screening for cervical, uterine and breast cancer is a commendable initiative that makes a major contribution to reducing maternal and infant mortality and improving the health of mothers and children. "During the current campaign, it is planned to place around 13,200 new users on contraceptives and to screen 156,000 women of childbearing age for breast and cervical cancers. Dear people. I would like to invite you to turn out en masse to the health centers", he urged.

The government's efforts to significantly reduce maternal mortality by improving contraceptive prevalence indicators and early detection of female cancers are greatly appreciated by political and administrative authorities and technical and financial partners.

For the WHO Resident Representative in Benin, the Government's commitment to eradicating women's cancers, in this case cervical cancer, is edifying. The proof is the launch a few months ago of the cervical cancer vaccination campaign for girls aged 9 to 14.

The Mayor of the commune of Sèmè-Podji and the Prefect of the Ouémé department were unanimous in their praise of the initiative.The Mayor of Sèmè-Podji and the Prefect of the Ouémé department unanimously praised the initiative, and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the awareness-raising campaign with a view to securing widespread support from women.

Source: www.gouv.bj/