Dr. Sarah:Inadequate information on access to cervical cancer screening and treatment services hinders mitigation

By Friday Simbaya, Iringa

The Director of Health Promotion of Women and Development Foundation (WAMA) Dr. Sarah Maongezi under the leadership of its Chairperson Mama Salma Kikwete said one of the biggest challenges of fighting against cervical cancer in the country is inadequate information to women on access to cervical cancer screening and treatment services.

Dr. Sarah made the statement yesterday during the ongoing three-day Regional Health Management Team (RHMT) and Council Health Management Team (CHMT) Follow-Up Advocacy meeting on cervical cancer in Iringa Region.

The RHMT and CHMT Follow-Up advocacy meeting on cervical cancer was officially opened by the Regional Medical Officer (RMO), Dr. Robert Salum on behalf of the Regional Administrative Secretary (RAS), Wamoja Ayubu.

She mentioned that some of the factors that are hindering the access and uptake of screening services include inadequate information on access to cervical cancer screening and treatment services and inadequate diagnostic facilities and weak referral system.

“Regional Health Management Team (RHMT) together with Council Health Management Team (CHMT) should make sure that they allocate funds in their Comprehensive Council Health Plans (CCHP),” she pointed out.

This collaborative program is financially and technically supported by Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF) who is a member of Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF) has committed $1.2 million over the next three years to support women’s cancer work in Tanzania.

On her part, Iringa Regional Reproductive Child Health Coordinator (RPCHCO), Mariam Mohamed said in May 2011- June 2015 they have recorded achievements in the program including conducting advocacy meeting to political leaders and RHMT and CHMT members, HIV care orientation workshop on Cervical Cancer Program (CECAP) to sites to improve integration of HIV/CTC services and also regular supportive supervision.

She mention other achievements like establishing of 11 cervical cancer screening functional sites equipped with supplies for service provision, conducted mass cervical cancer screening (awareness/access for services ) and 40 providers so far have been trained to offer VIA/Cryotherapy.

She said that CECAP Program in Iringa region started in 2011 through the Ministry of health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) with support from different partners including JPHIEGO, WAMA, MEWATA, TMARC and Aga Khan.

However, Iringa Regional Reproductive Child Health Coordinator (RPCHCO),Mariam Mohamed said there were some challenges they faced during the CECAP Program implementation.

She outlined some of the challenges like poor referral system for suspect cancer cases and large lesions, low community awareness on CECAP, long term sustainability of the program, linkages of cervical cancer screening and HIV care and expansion of CECAP program to other sites just to mention a few.

In July in 2013 President Dr. Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and former U.S. President George W. Bush launched the “Pink ribbon, Red Ribbon (PRRR)” Initiative, with the main aim of helping African countries, including Tanzania, in reducing the number of women suffering from cervical and breast cancers.

In East Africa about 33.6 percent of women in the general population are estimated to harbor cervical HPV infection at a given time.

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