February 01, 2022
Partnership for Advanced Care and Treatment (PACT) Endeleza has supported HIV programming since 2016, but the program scope previously did not include cervical cancer screening. This changed in October 2020 when PACT Endeleza expanded its range of services to screen all women of all reproductive age groups.
Cervical cancer is the second-most prevalent cancer in women in Kenya and the most common cause of cancer deaths. The 2014 Kenya Demographic Health Survey showed a screening uptake of only 14% among women 30–49 years of age. Although the Kenya government has developed a national cervical cancer prevention strategic plan as well as conducted the vaccination pilot, rollout of the program has not yet commenced.
PACT Endeleza trained 50 clinicians, nurses, and clinical officers from partner facilities on how to conduct cervical cancer screenings. These trainees, in turn, cascaded that knowledge to several facilities by conducting continuing medical education and rolling out the implementation process.
From a baseline of 0% at the end of September 2020, the program managed to screen 9,236 (43%) women of reproductive age out of 21,550 by August 2021. This increase in screenings represents a great milestone with the program being able to screen and treat cervical cancer on-site, and it demonstrates that a proper referral systems is in place for clients who need further treatment, such as those with large excision of transformational zones.
PACT Endeleza is proud that Nairobi County is the leader in cervical cancer screening among the HIV-positive population.
Contact
Center for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity
Institute of Human Virology
Tyler New
Scientific Writer
tnew@ihv.umaryland.edu
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