ELIKIA. A sustainable screening for cervical cancer prevention
Situation:
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. In the DR Congo, one of the poorest countries in the world (HDI 179 out of 191), it is the leading cause of cancer deaths. The problem is exacerbated by a lack of awareness about the disease and its prevention among the population, unaffordable screening for the majority of women, and a shortage of trained personnel.
Objectives:
The goal of the project ELIKIA (Hope in the Lingala language ) is to implement a comprehensive screening strategy at the Centre Hospitalier Monkole and its affiliated health centers to reduce cervical cancer. This strategy includes public awareness campaigns, preventive screenings, and the subsequent treatment of precancerous lesions using thermoablation. It is intended to serve as a model for other hospitals in Kinshasa and throughout the country.
- Number of women tested for HPV (Human Papillomavirus) at Monkole Hospital or its affiliated health centers
- Number of women who tested positive for HPV and were subsequently treated with thermoablation.
- Number of local doctors and nurses trained in the prevention, early detection, and treatment of precancerous lesions using thermoablation.
- Raising awareness among the medical staff (doctors and nurses) at Monkole Hospital and its affiliated health centers, as well as the local population, about the importance of cervical cancer early detection.
- Equipping the laboratory at Monkole Hospital with the necessary equipment and training the staff to perform HPV tests.
- Training local professionals in collaboration with Prof. Dr. Chiva, Director of the Department of Gynecology (including Gynecological Oncology) and Obstetrics at Clínica Universidad de Navarra (Spain), in the detection and treatment of precancerous lesions using thermoablation, as well as in the follow-up care of cancer cases.
- Integration of the screening strategy as a core and important component of the operations at Monkole Hospital and its affiliated health centers.
- Collaboration with women's organizations, such as the Association of Wives of Soldiers and Policemen (l'Association des épouses des militaires et des policiers), in order to give as many women as possible access to preventive medical check-ups as part of special campaigns together with experts and students from the Clínica Universidad de Navarra.
The project aims to achieve a sustainable impact on three levels and strengthen the health system in Kinshasa:
Implementation of the screening and treatment system: This system will be integrated within the Monkole Hospital, working closely with the primary health center and its three satellite centers, as well as the gynecology department, to benefit the most vulnerable population in Kinshasa.
Training of healthcare personnel: The training plan of the ISSI nursing school in Kinshasa will include specific courses on the importance of cervical cancer screening, visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA) and/or Lugol's iodine (VILI), and treatment with thermoablation.
Creation of a prevention culture: Through awareness campaigns, cooperation with women's organizations, and the experiences of the patients themselves, a prevention culture for cervical cancer will be promoted both in the civilian population and within the regional government, with the hope that the latter will support regional health campaigns.
The majority of the population in Kinshasa, especially women, lives from day to day. This precarious situation makes it difficult to develop a culture of prevention in healthcare, especially when there are no acute needs or pain present. The high costs of an HPV test (approximately 85 to 100 USD), transportation expenses, and the time investment – often an entire day – to reach the hospital, exacerbate the problem further.
Thanks to this project and the new laboratory equipment, women now have access to a very affordable HPV test (2 USD), receive the results within an hour, and if the result is positive, healthcare personnel can perform a visual inspection and treat potential precancerous lesions with thermoablation on the same day. In case of other injuries or cancers, patients can be referred to the gynecological department for further treatment.
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