Download file, English (1 MB PDF) - RHO

• Coordination of services
– Strengthen coordination of cervical cancer control activities, including monitoring and
evaluation.
– Collaboration and partnerships with internal and external partners/stakeholders.
– Training for screening and management including VIA/VILI, cryotherapy, and loop
electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).
Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Malawi
Mr. Marshal Lemerani
Reproductive Health Officer
Ministry of Health, Malawi
Mr. Marshal Lemerani noted that a cervical cancer prevention program was conducted in Malawi by
Project Hope from 1999 to 2004, and subsequently Jhpiego took over the activities, working until 2007.
In 2008, the MOH integrated cervical cancer prevention into its reproductive health services.
The current program areas include advocacy and awareness activities such as holding meetings with
stakeholders, partners, politicians, and community leaders; mass media campaigns using radio and
newspapers; and development of posters and leaflets. Unfortunately, funding for these activities cannot
always be found: the posters and leaflets that were developed have not been printed because of lack of
funds.
The program has achieved some solid goals: it has
developed cervical cancer prevention guidelines and
strategies and has integrated these services into the
sexual and reproductive rights policies. Twenty “Training
of Trainers” sessions have been conducted, out of a
planned thirty, and 165 providers out of 600 have
received training. VIA is now performed at 63 out of 540
health care sites (some in each of the 28 country
Many challenges remain, such as
reaching rural women, obtaining
sufficient cryotherapy units and
other supplies, and training more
providers.
districts), with cryotherapy available at 41 out of 125 sites (in 23 districts), with the result that over
35,000 women have been screened. However, this is only about 5 percent of the nearly 670,000 women
targeted.
Many challenges remain, such as reaching rural women, obtaining sufficient cryotherapy units and other
supplies, and training more providers. Malawi does not have a functional histopathology laboratory or a
vaccination program to prevent HPV infections. Supportive supervision occurs irregularly, and funding in
general is inadequate.
Report of an African Regional Meeting on Cervical Cancer: September 2010 34