Download file, English (1 MB PDF) - RHO

Working Groups on Cervical Cancer Prevention Priorities
The next phase of the conference was devoted to country group work. Three working groups were
formed:
Group 1: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
Group 2: Lesotho, Malawi, and Zambia
Group 3: Cameroon, Ghana, and Rwanda
For the first activity, participants from each country compiled a list of priorities, action items, and
technical assistance needed in their own country for cervical cancer prevention. These reports from
individual countries are included in Annex 6.
Each country then reported to its three-country group, and all three discussed common challenges. Each
group then prepared a brief report on key findings and possible actions to be taken. The sections below
highlight points from these combined reports.
Group 1: Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda
In Group 1, several challenges were found across countries:
• Lack of adequate capacity, especially in human resources.
• Absence of advocacy for cervical cancer prevention.
• Poor referral systems.
• Low government funding for prevention and treatment services.
– Much of the funding for procurement of vaccines, human resources, and maintenance of
the cold chain is from external sources.
• Lack of leadership, especially at MOH.
– For example, funds from various organizations can be obtained, but the coordination and
implementation of activities becomes a problem.
• Shortage of training materials in appropriate languages.
In its discussion, the group considered how to intervene to strengthen leadership and accountability at
all levels. An idea for this was to identify champions in the field who have a vision that can guide others,
a focal person who can be counted on to speak with stakeholders at various levels.
Another thought was that coordination must be improved at all levels, since cervical cancer involves
reproductive health, cancer, and immunization groups. The countries agreed that a leader from one of
these departments would need to be responsible for moving the cervical cancer prevention agenda
forward.
Report of an African Regional Meeting on Cervical Cancer: September 2010 50