RBC in collaboration with Imbuto Foundation and other partners have started a campaign on eliminating cervical cancer in Nyarugenge district, the campaign which coincide with the world international day of eliminating cervical cancer, which started at COR-UNUM health center located in Kimisagara sector.
Since 2014, Rwanda started cervical cancer screening, speaking to the journalists Francois Uwinkindi Division Manager, non-communicable diseases in RBC talks about what is done to eliminate the cervical cancer.
“To eliminate cervical cancer we have to do 3 things ,vaccinating young girls aged 12 ,in Rwanda we have reached to 90% concerning vaccination which is the global target ,the second is to examine women aged between 30-49 and check if they have cervical cancer or early signs ,we have attained to 30% concerning examination that is why we are putting all our efforts into examination and we have a target of reaching to 70% in 2 years ,the third thing is to cure positive cervical cancer patients.” He stated.
we have the ability of curing simple symptoms, health centers have the machine that cure those simple symptoms, for those whose symptoms are alarming, we transfer them to Teaching hospitals, that is why we are here to start the campaign so that women can be aware of the screening services.” He added.
Francois kept on saying that every year 700 patients are affirmed to be positive after having been screened on cervical cancer, and this is due to the delay to examination.
In fight against cervical cancer, RBC work with partners like WHO, Richard Freeman, Executive Officer in WHO, talked about the partnership and how it helps Rwanda in the fight against cervical cancer.
“We have been collaborating with Rwanda when our Director General made a call in 2018 to eliminate cervical cancer, Rwanda has been a first runner in that effort ,we are excited about the project that has been happening to expand the target to screening ,some districts have already shown what is possible ,we are standing with Rwanda helping with technical assistance and expertise and we are also learning so much ,the world is learning so much from the genuity and innovation and how you translated a global goal into a context in which you are working ,which other countries can learn. “He spoke.
The success of Rwanda’s interventions is deeply tied to community health workers, who play a central role in educating households, mobilizing women for screening, and breaking the stigma surrounding reproductive health.
Uwingabire Joselyne,Community health worker in Nyabugogo cell speaks about the part they play in fight against cervical cancer. “As day-to-day job of community health worker is to know the daily life of citizens, we divide ourselves in cell and sensitize citizens to do screening as early screening led to healing.”She mentioned.
In Rwanda 8 districts have reached to 70% of people who did examination on cervical cancer, Nyarugenge district is on 30% and has the target of reaching to 70% which is a global target.
