Today, 16-year-old Stecy Blessings Bosse helps run a support group for women with cervical cancer in Kisumu, Kenya, which includes those who developed cancer after contracting the human papillomavirus (HPV). But just a few years ago, she had never even heard of HPV.
Bosse first learned about HPV at age 12 when her mother suggested that she find out more about the virus and get vaccinated against it. She learned that HPV can impact people of all genders and, if left untreated, can cause cervical, penile, and other cancers. The virus, which infects skin or mucosal cells, is sexually transmitted, and a person can spread it despite not having symptoms.
“I’m passionate about research and learned that women are dying every year [of HPV-related cervical cancer], and it can be prevented,” said the teen.
More than 90% of cancers attributed to HPV can be prevented by the HPV vaccine, which has been available since 2006. The vaccine is administered in two doses to individuals aged 9 to 26 years old and is most effective when given to people before they become sexually active.
Despite being terrified of needles, Bosse visited a local clinic to receive the HPV vaccine. She asked her friends if they would join her, but they told her they did not understand why it was important.
Bosse joked with her mother about becoming an advocate to raise awareness for HPV, but her mother took her seriously.
“You can actually do that,” she said.
And so Bosse did. The self-described “hobby hopper” who enjoys running, singing, and cooking added advocacy to her list of hobbies as she began giving community health talks on HPV.
Stecy Blessings Bosse, a teenage advocate for the HPV Vaccine, poses with her mother, Carol Oreng', on the sidelines of her school outreach program at Obinju Kanyakwar Primary School in Kisumu, Kenya on July 26, 2024.
“When I would go to the church and schools, parents would say we don’t want you to talk to our children about sex,” she told Global Citizen. “Their message has always been don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t, don’t [talk about it].”
But Bosse didn’t stop. She eventually found groups that were receptive to her efforts and learned how to sensitively navigate these conversations, which typically involve dispelling misconceptions about the vaccine, HPV, and cervical cancer.
According to Bosse, many parents believe that if they encourage their children to get vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus, it will promote promiscuity. Bosse does her best to alleviate these concerns.
“It’s human for people to engage in sex. Sex will always happen,” she said. Then she explains to parents that even if someone waits until they are married to have sex, it’s possible their partner may have HPV and infect them with the virus, which then increases their risk for cervical cancer. Additionally, for individuals who may experience sexual abuse, receiving the HPV vaccine can protect against contracting the virus as a result of assault.
“I come from a community where gender-based violence is normal. There are a lot of rape cases and men who take advantage of girls,” she told Global Citizen. “I met girls who say they are sexually abused by their relatives. That really gets me mad,” added Bosse, whose father works for a local organization that has intervened in several such abuse cases.
Nearly 16% of Kenyan girls and 6% of boys experience sexual violence before age 18, and many cases of child sexual abuse are believed to go unreported.
“If people are not aware [of the risks] if not enough girls go for the vaccine, we might have a cervical cancer crisis,” said Bosse, who has ambitions of becoming a gynecologist.
Stecy Bosse
Stecy Blessings Bosse speaks with students during a school outreach program at Obinju Kanyakwar Primary School in Kisumu, Kenya on July 26, 2024.
Stecy Bosse
Cervical cancer represents 12% of all cancer cases in Kenya and Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest rates of cervical cancer cases and deaths globally. To help curb this, Bosse has championed HPV vaccination in her community.
Stecy Bosse
In addition to her outreach with students, Bosse has organized 10-kilometer races and father-daughter dances at schools to raise both HPV awareness and donations for women with cervical cancer.
In the coming decade, HPV vaccinations in Kenya could avert 130,000 cervical cancer cases. Currently, cervical cancer represents 12% of all cancer cases in the country. These rates contribute to Sub-Saharan Africa having one of the highest rates of cervical cancer cases and deaths globally.
To help curb this, Bosse has spent the last few years championing HPV vaccination in her community. She has organized annual 10-kilometer races and father-daughter dances at schools to raise both HPV awareness and donations for women with cervical cancer. At her first event, 17 girls chose to receive the HPV vaccine. Her advocacy efforts have ramped up since then.
Earlier this year, Bosse undertook an internship at a hospital where she met several women with cervical cancer, including some women whose husbands had left them because they mistakenly assumed the cervical cancer diagnosis meant their wives had cheated on them. These encounters have inspired Bosse to increase awareness of HPV among men.
Together with a nurse at the hospital and Bosse’s mom, who is a psychologist, the teen founded the monthly support group for women in Kisumu with cervical cancer.
She continues to raise awareness of and advocate for the HPV vaccination amongst her peers — “but I’m still afraid of needles,” she said, laughing.
Stecy Blessings Bosse poses for a portrait outside of Obinju Kanyakwar Primary School where she conducts an outreach program with students, in Kisumu, Kenya on July 26, 2024.
The World's Best Shot is a profile series dedicated to sharing the stories of vaccine activists around the world.
Disclosure: This series was made possible with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Each piece was produced with full editorial independence.