Point-of-Care (POC) or Point-of-Care Testing (POCT) have been generally intended for rapid diagnostic testing (less than 90 minutes) to detect and diagnose infectious diseases quickly, close to the patient-healthcare interface. The COVID-19 pandemic has underlined the potential uses of POCT devices on a large scale to detect infectious diseases and for public health risk management as well as protecting fragile cancer patients. The study and the implementation of POC for HPV-based screening is stretching out to its current maximum potential the concept of rapid diagnosis of chronic infectious disease, with risk of cancer progression, to include clinical validation and treatment, to provide each woman, also in LMICs, with the possibility of effective secondary prevention of cervical cancer. In the last 5 years, the Infectious Agents and Cancer journal hosted some paradigmatic pieces of the scientific debate on HPV screening in sub-Saharan Africa (Mungo 2024, Dreyer 2024; Parhm 2023; Moyo 2023; Desai 2020; Onyango 2020). This collection is willing to highlight the richness of the debate, presenting the results and focusing on the open questions. These start from how to reach the women who mostly can benefit from screening, increasing their awareness, health literacy and, finally, participation in screening, including the opportunity of introducing self-sampling and how to propose it. The main barrier to a massive screening in LMIC is still the cost of the intervention, researchers are working to develop and validate HPV assays that are sustainable and feasible as POCT, possibly clinically validated also on self-sample. The one-step screening needs to rapidly identify women that can deserve treatment possibly avoiding histological assessment. Studies are investigating the best triage strategies to stratify women according to their risk of CIN3+. Accurate triage and risk stratification also open the question of how to manage woman who are HPV-positive and triage-negative; these women finitely do not deserve treatment but have a high risk of CIN3+ in the future. Defining appropriate, feasible, and acceptable follow up strategies for these women is a new research need. The collection of the included studies goes from the laboratory to the community, from the validation of new molecular methods to capacity building of professionals and community involvement.

This cross-journal Collection's focus on Africa stems from the pressing need to address the unique cancer challenges and opportunities on the continent. Despite the growing body of research emerging from Africa, there is a lack of specialized platforms dedicated to showcasing this work. This new collection aims to fill that gap by providing a dedicated venue for African oncology research, highlighting regional innovations, and promoting collaboration between African researchers and the global scientific community. By focusing on Africa, the collection will ensure that the continent's specific challenges—such as culturally tailored interventions, resource constraints, and local public health strategies—receive the in-depth attention they deserve.This targeted approach not only meets an unmet need in the scientific publishing landscape but also has the potential to significantly advance cancer research and care across Africa, making it a crucial addition to the field. Manuscripts addressing other aspects of HIV disease will not be included as our goal is to better understand cancer in African people living with HIV (PLWH).

All submissions in this collection undergo the journal’s standard peer review process. Similarly, all manuscripts authored by a Guest Editor(s) will be handled by the Editor-in-Chief. As an open access publication, this journal levies an article processing fee (details here). We recognize that many key stakeholders may not have access to such resources and are committed to supporting participation in this issue wherever resources are a barrier. For more information about what support may be available, please visit OA funding and support, or email OAfundingpolicy@springernature.com or the Editor-in-Chief.