For years, cervical cancer has been a thief of many women’s lives and now the C-Vive app is here “to empower women to take charge of their cervical health” she adds.
Professor Darelle Van Greunen, Distinguished Professor and the founder of the Centre for Community Technologies, together with her team at the University, health practitioners and behavioural scientists, and the women themselves, co designed the C-Vive App.
The app is more than a digital tool but one more step ahead to save lives. It has been orchestrated as a source of truth and a voice of encouragement for women who so often feel invisible and afraid.
Prof Van Greunen highlighted that the conceptual idea for C‑Vive A pp emerged out of community conversation spaces where misinformation and fear were revealed as persistent barriers to screening.
Women admitted that they often avoided screening, not because they did not care, but because they did not understand the process, or they had internalised frightening myths. That insight became the foundation for what would eventually become the C-Vive App.
The project was made possible through a powerful cross-sector collaboration. The Movement Health Foundation offered strategic insight, funding, and commitment to public health innovation. And the University team provided the technical, research, and human-centred design expertise.
“Unfortunately, many women are diagnosed too late due to lack of information, stigma, or access, and the app directly tackles these barriers by offering trusted, accessible, and culturally appropriate information, helping women understand symptoms, screening options, and the value of the HPV vaccine”, declares Prof Van Greunen.
One of the major reasons that resulted in women not accessing screening, was because they did not know what it involved, or they had heard myths that created fear. Prof Van Greunen emphasised that they knew that they use technology — not to replace human care — but to support decision-making and confidence, because it is a preventive tool wrapped in empathy and technology.
The app has operating audio clips in isiXhosa and Afrikaans, which make it easy to access information for women, who may have low literacy or language barriers. It goes beyond assisting victims as it has created a pathway for health workers who use it as an instrument on the ground for women, who have declared that it helped them understand cervical cancer for the first time.
What is fascinating fact about the app is that it uses icons, voice notes in multiple languages, and conversational explanations — not medical jargon, requiring no downloads and it is accessible 24/7 — without judgement, clinic queues, or confusing terminology.
On the other hand, Prof Van Greunen confirms that “One challenge was ensuring the content was medically accurate, emotionally sensitive, and easy to understand — all at once. Another was managing language diversity and cultural nuance, which we addressed through co-design and multilingual audio.”
Looking ahead, Professor van Greunen and her team are already thinking about scaling the platform to include broader women's health issues, such as breast cancer awareness. “The demand is there,” she says. “Especially from health workers who need reliable, user-friendly tools to educate their communities.”
She concluded by saying “Success for the team means that every woman in South Africa, regardless of where she lives or what language she speaks, has access to trusted, empowering health information. It also means screening rates go up, late-stage diagnoses go down, and myths are replaced with knowledge”.
To women who may still feel hesitant, Professor van Greunen offers a clear and compassionate message: “You are not alone. You are worth fighting for. Screening is not something to fear — it’s something that helps you be here longer, for your children, your family, and for yourself. That’s why C-Vive App exists. It’s in your language, your voice, and your terms.”
Access the C-Vive App