Open AccessBWS Effort in Cancer Screening in Rural Communities
Author(s) -
A. Lasebikan,
Amaka Obiageli Nnamani,
Nneka Iloanusi,
Ifeoma Okoye,
C. Okwuosa,
L. Ezeilo
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of global oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.002
H-Index - 17
ISSN - 2378-9506
DOI - 10.1200/jgo.18.65400
Subject(s) - medicine , context (archaeology) , cancer screening , family medicine , population , rural area , cancer prevention , cancer , environmental health , paleontology , pathology , biology
Background and context: Nigeria, being the most populous African country has the highest cancer burden. Most of the population reside in rural areas where there are no functional health centers. Life in these communities is marked by profound ignorance, superstition and stigma, concerning cancers. There is no cancer control plan in place in the country. Aim: BWS aims at increasing awareness of the need for prevention and early detection of cancers. Strategy/Tactics: Three-pronged approach of education, screening and vaccination, with navigation where required. Monthly education and cancer screening in rural communities. Provision of a navigation system of medical follow-up for patients with a positive screening result; establishing treatment and support care for patients and recruiting and training volunteers and local advocates for cancer awareness campaigns. Program/Policy process: Monthly education/enlightenment activities in various rural communities in southeast Nigeria. Dissemination of information on screening activities is done via church and other community groups; town criers, WhatsApp, radio and banners at strategic locations. Outcomes: A total of 1990 participants (1388 females and 602 males) were screened from January 2016 to December 2017. 1342 women had CBE, 96 were referred for mammography. 105 out 1041 females who had VIA with colposcopy were positive and 26 of them had cryotherapy. 426 girls and young women (9-26 years) received HPV vaccination. 12 out of 204 men who had PSA tests were positive and referred to urologists. Since the launch of project Rid Nigeria of Late Cancer Detection in 2016, BWS has acquired a physical infrastructure for daily screening and continued her monthly rural screening services. What was learned: Women need to take permission from their husbands to even get screened, therefore involvement of traditional rulers, local government chairmen, opinion molders, leaders of faith-based organizations, and local cancer advocates from the community, is helping to increase awareness and reduce stigmatization. Taking the screening to the community is helping combat “late presentation syndrome”. However, financing rural awareness and screening is quite a challenge without financial support.