HIV self-testing in adolescents living in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Less than 20% of African adolescents aged 10-19 years are aware of their HIV status, whereas HIV screening remains the gateway to care and while AIDS has become the leading cause of death among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. According to the UNAIDS target, scalable HIV testing strategies specific to various age groups, populations, and geographical areas must be implemented to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Many African countries have implemented policies supporting HIV self-testing (HIVST). Evidence of practicability and efficiency of HIVST in Sub-Saharan Africa settings has been reported, including HIVST data among adolescents. Adapted strategies of HIVST are urgently needed to promote HIV testing among adolescents living in sub-Saharan Africa.

Cervical cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: an emerging and preventable disease associated with oncogenic human papillomavirus.

Highly oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are responsible for 7.7 % of cancers in developing countries, mainly cervical cancer. The incidence of this emerging cancer is steadily increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 75,000 new cases and close to 50,000 deaths a year, a toll further increased by HIV infection. According to the World Health Organization, cervical cancer will kill more than 443,000 women per year worldwide by 2030, nearly 90 % of them in sub-Saharan Africa. This increase in cervical cancer incidence in Africa is now counteracting the progress made by African women in reducing maternal mortality and increasing longevity. Nevertheless, cervical cancer is a potentially preventable noncommunicable disease that can be averted or halted by primary (vaccination), secondary (early diagnosis of situations at risk), and tertiary (early diagnosis of proven cases of cervical neoplasia) prevention. The close links between HIV and HPV justify linking cervical cancer prevention, screening, and management programs with AIDS programs as part of the "90-90-90" initiative of the UNAIDS, both nationally and regionally. Innovative strategies based on effective, rapid, inexpensive, and mobile screening tools, including at best molecular biology as well as vaccination and awareness programs, should be rapidly implemented and evaluated in sub-Saharan Africa.