Open AccessGrassroots Partnership to See and Treat Cervical Cancer in Rural Uganda
Author(s) -
William Cherniak,
E Stern,
Carol Picart,
Sarah Sinasac,
Carolyn Iwasa,
Michael Silverman,
Geoffrey Anguyo
Publication year - 2017
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.2017.009639
Subject(s) - medicine , cervical cancer , general partnership , health care , grassroots , family medicine , cryotherapy , nursing , cancer , economic growth , surgery , political science , politics , law , economics
9 Background: In Uganda, cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death, affecting 45 in every 100,000 women annually and killing 25 in every 100,000 annually. To effect change, two Canadian registered charities partnered with a Ugandan nongovernmental organization, a university, and the Ministry of Health to develop a novel screening, treatment, and educational training program. The two major goals of our program were to develop a training program for health care providers in southwestern Uganda for visual inspection of the cervix with acetic acid (VIA) and a cryotherapy see and treat model; and to implement the first cervical cancer screening program of its kind in the Kabale region of southwestern Uganda.Methods: Our program was developed in partnership with Mbarara University of Science and Technology, a grass-roots Ugandan community development organization (Kigezi Healthcare Foundation [KIHEFO]), a Canadian charity that is focused on providing medical and dental care and educational training and infrastructure development (Bridge to Health Medical and Dental), and a Canadian charity that is focused on treatment for advanced cervical cancer (Road to Care).Results: Requisite supplies were obtained by Bridge to Health Medical and Dental and left behind with KIHEFO. A partnership was formed between academia, government, and civil society across Canada and Uganda. Over 5 days, 15 Ugandan health care workers were trained in VIA and cryotherapy, and 96 patients were screened for cervical cancer. Six patients were successfully treated for precancerous lesions. One biopsy was sent for pathology review and analysis.Conclusion: Since the pilot program, KIHEFO has conducted two additional cervical cancer screening programs using VIA and the see and treat approach. A new cervical cancer screening and treatment campaign, along with a quality control and educational training refresher, for the original 15 health care providers is planned for February 2017. Funding: Bridge to Health Medical and Dental and Kigezi Healthcare Foundation in partnership with the Ugandan Ministry of Health.AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST No COIs from the authors.