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"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)
story

| 04 February 2017

"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)

Gertrude Mugala is a teacher in Fort Portal town, western Uganda. While Gertrude considered herself fairly knowledgable about cancer, she had never thought of taking a screening test or imagined herself ever having the disease. That was until she one day chanced on a radio announcement urging women to go for cervical cancer screening at a Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) clinic. “The radio presenter was talking about cervical cancer and in her message, she encouraged all women to get screened. I decided to go and try it out,” she says. Gertrude then made her way to RHU's Fort Portal Branch clinic for the free cervical cancer screening. There, she met Ms. Irene Kugonza, an RHU service provider. Together with other women, Ms. Kugonza educated them about cervical cancer and the importance of routine screening. The women then took the cervical cancer test. But Gertrude's results were not as she expected. The news was not good. Gertrude was found to have pre-cancerous cells in her cervix. The good news however was that it was at the pre-cancerous cell stage, and with the right intervention, it did not have to develop into cancer. Cervcial cancer is treatable if detected early and appropriate medical interventions undertaken. “I was so shaken when I was told I had pre-cancerous cells. I did not know what was happening and I didn’t believe what I was hearing. I had no idea that along, while I thought I was healthy, I was actually harbouring a potential killer disease in me. What would have happened if I didn’t go for the screening? If I hadn't heard the radio announcement?” Gertrude was then referred for cryotherapy, which is a treatment for precancerous lesions. This method involves freezing abnormal tissues with a probe - cooled by liquid nitrous oxide or carbondioxide. It has an overall effectiveness rate of 80-90 percent in women with suitable lesions. Cryotherapy is inexpensive, does not require electricity, and is practical for low-resource settings. It has been safely performed by nurses and other non-physicians in low level facilities and at the primary care level. “Following cryotherapy, I am now in the process of healing, and I am supposed to go back for review after three months,” Gertrude says. Today, Gertrude advocates cervical cancer screening in her community. She talks to women about cancer, especially cancer of the cervix at her workplace, at the market, in meetings and any other opportunity she gets. “I decided to let women know that cervical cancer is real and it is here with us, and that it kills. At the moment those are the platforms I have and I will continue educating women about cancer and encourage them to go for routine testing. I am also happy that I was near my radio that day, where I heard that announcment encouraging all women to get tested for cervical cancer. It might be because of that radio announcement that I am here today,” she says. Cervical cancer is one of the two most common causes of cancer-related deaths in Uganda. According to Uganda’s health ministry, more than 3,500 women are diagnosed each year with cancer, with more than 2,400 dying from a disease that is preventable and curable when detected early. RHU has accelerated access to services such as cervical cancer screens in response to this growing need. Story by RHU and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region

"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)
story

| 28 March 2024

"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)

Gertrude Mugala is a teacher in Fort Portal town, western Uganda. While Gertrude considered herself fairly knowledgable about cancer, she had never thought of taking a screening test or imagined herself ever having the disease. That was until she one day chanced on a radio announcement urging women to go for cervical cancer screening at a Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) clinic. “The radio presenter was talking about cervical cancer and in her message, she encouraged all women to get screened. I decided to go and try it out,” she says. Gertrude then made her way to RHU's Fort Portal Branch clinic for the free cervical cancer screening. There, she met Ms. Irene Kugonza, an RHU service provider. Together with other women, Ms. Kugonza educated them about cervical cancer and the importance of routine screening. The women then took the cervical cancer test. But Gertrude's results were not as she expected. The news was not good. Gertrude was found to have pre-cancerous cells in her cervix. The good news however was that it was at the pre-cancerous cell stage, and with the right intervention, it did not have to develop into cancer. Cervcial cancer is treatable if detected early and appropriate medical interventions undertaken. “I was so shaken when I was told I had pre-cancerous cells. I did not know what was happening and I didn’t believe what I was hearing. I had no idea that along, while I thought I was healthy, I was actually harbouring a potential killer disease in me. What would have happened if I didn’t go for the screening? If I hadn't heard the radio announcement?” Gertrude was then referred for cryotherapy, which is a treatment for precancerous lesions. This method involves freezing abnormal tissues with a probe - cooled by liquid nitrous oxide or carbondioxide. It has an overall effectiveness rate of 80-90 percent in women with suitable lesions. Cryotherapy is inexpensive, does not require electricity, and is practical for low-resource settings. It has been safely performed by nurses and other non-physicians in low level facilities and at the primary care level. “Following cryotherapy, I am now in the process of healing, and I am supposed to go back for review after three months,” Gertrude says. Today, Gertrude advocates cervical cancer screening in her community. She talks to women about cancer, especially cancer of the cervix at her workplace, at the market, in meetings and any other opportunity she gets. “I decided to let women know that cervical cancer is real and it is here with us, and that it kills. At the moment those are the platforms I have and I will continue educating women about cancer and encourage them to go for routine testing. I am also happy that I was near my radio that day, where I heard that announcment encouraging all women to get tested for cervical cancer. It might be because of that radio announcement that I am here today,” she says. Cervical cancer is one of the two most common causes of cancer-related deaths in Uganda. According to Uganda’s health ministry, more than 3,500 women are diagnosed each year with cancer, with more than 2,400 dying from a disease that is preventable and curable when detected early. RHU has accelerated access to services such as cervical cancer screens in response to this growing need. Story by RHU and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region

Reproductive Health Uganda
story

| 04 February 2017

"The Day I Faced my Greatest Fear Head-On" -Kellen Mbabazi

Kellen Mbabazi, 25, is married with two children aged 10 years and 4 years. She recently faced one of her greatest fears: getting screened for cervical cancer. “Cancer is a big deal in the community today. There are so many people -including women that I know who have the disease. I also know of families that have lost a loved one to cancer. For a long time, I was so terrified of testing for cervical cancer because I was scared I would get a positive result. I imagined that this would be an automatic death sentence for me, yet I’m still young and with a great future ahead of me. I still plan on getting more children, so I didn’t want to be told that I have cervical cancer,” she confesses. However, one day, Kellen decided to take charge of her own health and mustered the courage to get screened for cervical cancer, having learnt of its importance through a community outreach conducted by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) –Kampala branch. “During the outreach, I heard one of the mobilizers say that with cancer, the key is to detect it early because when it is discovered at a late stage, then it is what might kill you. This information convinced me and that is why I decided to screen for cervical cancer,” she says. Also Read: "The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala Kellen then went to the nearby Kiswa Health Center in Kampala, where she met a team from Reproductive Health Uganda who screened her for cervical cancer. Following her experience, which she says was eye-opening, Kellen then decided to become a cervical cancer mobilizer. “My mother and my sisters were the first people I encouraged to come for screening. I then informed my friends and encouraged them to test too. This is something that I will continue doing, because I have realized that it is not the disease that kills people, but fear for testing. Yet, early screening is one of the best solutions to cervical cancer. This is the information that I have been sharing with my female networks, and I will not relent in doing so,” she says. RHU implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative, which uses static clinics and outreaches as the main service delivery modes. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT Initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Related: Reproductive Health Uganda: Effectively Responding to the Cervical Cancer Burden Ms. Annet Kyarimpa, the Special Projects Coordinator in the IPPFAR Member Association in Uganda –Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) says that CCSPT Initiative outreach activities provide the biggest bulk of clients (over 75%). The success of this approach is largely attributed to the fact that the outreaches are conducted in lower level health facilities (including government health facilities) that provide a conducive service delivery environment. Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region.

Reproductive Health Uganda
story

| 28 March 2024

"The Day I Faced my Greatest Fear Head-On" -Kellen Mbabazi

Kellen Mbabazi, 25, is married with two children aged 10 years and 4 years. She recently faced one of her greatest fears: getting screened for cervical cancer. “Cancer is a big deal in the community today. There are so many people -including women that I know who have the disease. I also know of families that have lost a loved one to cancer. For a long time, I was so terrified of testing for cervical cancer because I was scared I would get a positive result. I imagined that this would be an automatic death sentence for me, yet I’m still young and with a great future ahead of me. I still plan on getting more children, so I didn’t want to be told that I have cervical cancer,” she confesses. However, one day, Kellen decided to take charge of her own health and mustered the courage to get screened for cervical cancer, having learnt of its importance through a community outreach conducted by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) –Kampala branch. “During the outreach, I heard one of the mobilizers say that with cancer, the key is to detect it early because when it is discovered at a late stage, then it is what might kill you. This information convinced me and that is why I decided to screen for cervical cancer,” she says. Also Read: "The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala Kellen then went to the nearby Kiswa Health Center in Kampala, where she met a team from Reproductive Health Uganda who screened her for cervical cancer. Following her experience, which she says was eye-opening, Kellen then decided to become a cervical cancer mobilizer. “My mother and my sisters were the first people I encouraged to come for screening. I then informed my friends and encouraged them to test too. This is something that I will continue doing, because I have realized that it is not the disease that kills people, but fear for testing. Yet, early screening is one of the best solutions to cervical cancer. This is the information that I have been sharing with my female networks, and I will not relent in doing so,” she says. RHU implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative, which uses static clinics and outreaches as the main service delivery modes. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT Initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Related: Reproductive Health Uganda: Effectively Responding to the Cervical Cancer Burden Ms. Annet Kyarimpa, the Special Projects Coordinator in the IPPFAR Member Association in Uganda –Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) says that CCSPT Initiative outreach activities provide the biggest bulk of clients (over 75%). The success of this approach is largely attributed to the fact that the outreaches are conducted in lower level health facilities (including government health facilities) that provide a conducive service delivery environment. Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region.

Family_Health_Options_Kenya
story

| 04 February 2017

"This is the Split-Second Decision I Made One Day that Saved my Life" -Teresia Wangui

One day, while going about her daily activities in her home area in Nakuru, Kenya, 26 year-old Teresia Wangui happened upon a group of people providing medical services. They particularly seemed to be targeting women and since she had a few minutes to spare, she made way to the tent where they were. It was this decision that would save her life –literally. On offer at the medical camp were mobile cervical cancer screening services by the Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) –Nakuru branch. FHOK is the IPPF Africa Region Member Association in Kenya. “When I approached the tent, I found out that they were offering free cervical cancer screening services, and I decided to get tested too because I felt that I needed to know my status,” says Teresia. It was a decision that paid off because Teresia was found to have pre-cancerous lesions. To help allay the development of these lesions into cervical cancer, she was referred for further treatment - cryotherapy, which is a treatment for abnormal cells on the cervix. Cancer of the cervix is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) through sexual contact, with most people acquiring the infection shortly after the onset of unprotected sexual contact. However, pre-cancer lesions of the cervix are easily detectable by a trained medical provider. Regular screening tests can lead to early detection and treatment, which makes cervical cancer highly preventable. “Had I not made that split decision to pop into the medical camp by FHOK, I probably would not be here sharing my story with you today. I’m glad that I was able to be screened and receive treatment. I would advise all ladies to go for cervical cancer screening even if you are young and have not had children, since it affects everyone who is sexually active. I would also like to tell my fellow women not to wait for services to be brought to their doorstep. Cervical cancer screening services are also offered in many clinics, so it is your responsibility to undertake regular checks. You are the one responsible for your own health,” she says. Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem in developing countries, especially in Africa where an estimated 53,000 women die of the disease every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In response to this, FHOK implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative in different parts of the country through its static clinics. The CCSPT Initiative is aimed at improving reproductive health outcomes for women, with specific regard to cervical cancer. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Story by FHOK and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region

Family_Health_Options_Kenya
story

| 28 March 2024

"This is the Split-Second Decision I Made One Day that Saved my Life" -Teresia Wangui

One day, while going about her daily activities in her home area in Nakuru, Kenya, 26 year-old Teresia Wangui happened upon a group of people providing medical services. They particularly seemed to be targeting women and since she had a few minutes to spare, she made way to the tent where they were. It was this decision that would save her life –literally. On offer at the medical camp were mobile cervical cancer screening services by the Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) –Nakuru branch. FHOK is the IPPF Africa Region Member Association in Kenya. “When I approached the tent, I found out that they were offering free cervical cancer screening services, and I decided to get tested too because I felt that I needed to know my status,” says Teresia. It was a decision that paid off because Teresia was found to have pre-cancerous lesions. To help allay the development of these lesions into cervical cancer, she was referred for further treatment - cryotherapy, which is a treatment for abnormal cells on the cervix. Cancer of the cervix is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) through sexual contact, with most people acquiring the infection shortly after the onset of unprotected sexual contact. However, pre-cancer lesions of the cervix are easily detectable by a trained medical provider. Regular screening tests can lead to early detection and treatment, which makes cervical cancer highly preventable. “Had I not made that split decision to pop into the medical camp by FHOK, I probably would not be here sharing my story with you today. I’m glad that I was able to be screened and receive treatment. I would advise all ladies to go for cervical cancer screening even if you are young and have not had children, since it affects everyone who is sexually active. I would also like to tell my fellow women not to wait for services to be brought to their doorstep. Cervical cancer screening services are also offered in many clinics, so it is your responsibility to undertake regular checks. You are the one responsible for your own health,” she says. Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem in developing countries, especially in Africa where an estimated 53,000 women die of the disease every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In response to this, FHOK implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative in different parts of the country through its static clinics. The CCSPT Initiative is aimed at improving reproductive health outcomes for women, with specific regard to cervical cancer. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Story by FHOK and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region

"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)
story

| 04 February 2017

"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)

Gertrude Mugala is a teacher in Fort Portal town, western Uganda. While Gertrude considered herself fairly knowledgable about cancer, she had never thought of taking a screening test or imagined herself ever having the disease. That was until she one day chanced on a radio announcement urging women to go for cervical cancer screening at a Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) clinic. “The radio presenter was talking about cervical cancer and in her message, she encouraged all women to get screened. I decided to go and try it out,” she says. Gertrude then made her way to RHU's Fort Portal Branch clinic for the free cervical cancer screening. There, she met Ms. Irene Kugonza, an RHU service provider. Together with other women, Ms. Kugonza educated them about cervical cancer and the importance of routine screening. The women then took the cervical cancer test. But Gertrude's results were not as she expected. The news was not good. Gertrude was found to have pre-cancerous cells in her cervix. The good news however was that it was at the pre-cancerous cell stage, and with the right intervention, it did not have to develop into cancer. Cervcial cancer is treatable if detected early and appropriate medical interventions undertaken. “I was so shaken when I was told I had pre-cancerous cells. I did not know what was happening and I didn’t believe what I was hearing. I had no idea that along, while I thought I was healthy, I was actually harbouring a potential killer disease in me. What would have happened if I didn’t go for the screening? If I hadn't heard the radio announcement?” Gertrude was then referred for cryotherapy, which is a treatment for precancerous lesions. This method involves freezing abnormal tissues with a probe - cooled by liquid nitrous oxide or carbondioxide. It has an overall effectiveness rate of 80-90 percent in women with suitable lesions. Cryotherapy is inexpensive, does not require electricity, and is practical for low-resource settings. It has been safely performed by nurses and other non-physicians in low level facilities and at the primary care level. “Following cryotherapy, I am now in the process of healing, and I am supposed to go back for review after three months,” Gertrude says. Today, Gertrude advocates cervical cancer screening in her community. She talks to women about cancer, especially cancer of the cervix at her workplace, at the market, in meetings and any other opportunity she gets. “I decided to let women know that cervical cancer is real and it is here with us, and that it kills. At the moment those are the platforms I have and I will continue educating women about cancer and encourage them to go for routine testing. I am also happy that I was near my radio that day, where I heard that announcment encouraging all women to get tested for cervical cancer. It might be because of that radio announcement that I am here today,” she says. Cervical cancer is one of the two most common causes of cancer-related deaths in Uganda. According to Uganda’s health ministry, more than 3,500 women are diagnosed each year with cancer, with more than 2,400 dying from a disease that is preventable and curable when detected early. RHU has accelerated access to services such as cervical cancer screens in response to this growing need. Story by RHU and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region

"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)
story

| 28 March 2024

"The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala (Uganda)

Gertrude Mugala is a teacher in Fort Portal town, western Uganda. While Gertrude considered herself fairly knowledgable about cancer, she had never thought of taking a screening test or imagined herself ever having the disease. That was until she one day chanced on a radio announcement urging women to go for cervical cancer screening at a Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) clinic. “The radio presenter was talking about cervical cancer and in her message, she encouraged all women to get screened. I decided to go and try it out,” she says. Gertrude then made her way to RHU's Fort Portal Branch clinic for the free cervical cancer screening. There, she met Ms. Irene Kugonza, an RHU service provider. Together with other women, Ms. Kugonza educated them about cervical cancer and the importance of routine screening. The women then took the cervical cancer test. But Gertrude's results were not as she expected. The news was not good. Gertrude was found to have pre-cancerous cells in her cervix. The good news however was that it was at the pre-cancerous cell stage, and with the right intervention, it did not have to develop into cancer. Cervcial cancer is treatable if detected early and appropriate medical interventions undertaken. “I was so shaken when I was told I had pre-cancerous cells. I did not know what was happening and I didn’t believe what I was hearing. I had no idea that along, while I thought I was healthy, I was actually harbouring a potential killer disease in me. What would have happened if I didn’t go for the screening? If I hadn't heard the radio announcement?” Gertrude was then referred for cryotherapy, which is a treatment for precancerous lesions. This method involves freezing abnormal tissues with a probe - cooled by liquid nitrous oxide or carbondioxide. It has an overall effectiveness rate of 80-90 percent in women with suitable lesions. Cryotherapy is inexpensive, does not require electricity, and is practical for low-resource settings. It has been safely performed by nurses and other non-physicians in low level facilities and at the primary care level. “Following cryotherapy, I am now in the process of healing, and I am supposed to go back for review after three months,” Gertrude says. Today, Gertrude advocates cervical cancer screening in her community. She talks to women about cancer, especially cancer of the cervix at her workplace, at the market, in meetings and any other opportunity she gets. “I decided to let women know that cervical cancer is real and it is here with us, and that it kills. At the moment those are the platforms I have and I will continue educating women about cancer and encourage them to go for routine testing. I am also happy that I was near my radio that day, where I heard that announcment encouraging all women to get tested for cervical cancer. It might be because of that radio announcement that I am here today,” she says. Cervical cancer is one of the two most common causes of cancer-related deaths in Uganda. According to Uganda’s health ministry, more than 3,500 women are diagnosed each year with cancer, with more than 2,400 dying from a disease that is preventable and curable when detected early. RHU has accelerated access to services such as cervical cancer screens in response to this growing need. Story by RHU and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region

Reproductive Health Uganda
story

| 04 February 2017

"The Day I Faced my Greatest Fear Head-On" -Kellen Mbabazi

Kellen Mbabazi, 25, is married with two children aged 10 years and 4 years. She recently faced one of her greatest fears: getting screened for cervical cancer. “Cancer is a big deal in the community today. There are so many people -including women that I know who have the disease. I also know of families that have lost a loved one to cancer. For a long time, I was so terrified of testing for cervical cancer because I was scared I would get a positive result. I imagined that this would be an automatic death sentence for me, yet I’m still young and with a great future ahead of me. I still plan on getting more children, so I didn’t want to be told that I have cervical cancer,” she confesses. However, one day, Kellen decided to take charge of her own health and mustered the courage to get screened for cervical cancer, having learnt of its importance through a community outreach conducted by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) –Kampala branch. “During the outreach, I heard one of the mobilizers say that with cancer, the key is to detect it early because when it is discovered at a late stage, then it is what might kill you. This information convinced me and that is why I decided to screen for cervical cancer,” she says. Also Read: "The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala Kellen then went to the nearby Kiswa Health Center in Kampala, where she met a team from Reproductive Health Uganda who screened her for cervical cancer. Following her experience, which she says was eye-opening, Kellen then decided to become a cervical cancer mobilizer. “My mother and my sisters were the first people I encouraged to come for screening. I then informed my friends and encouraged them to test too. This is something that I will continue doing, because I have realized that it is not the disease that kills people, but fear for testing. Yet, early screening is one of the best solutions to cervical cancer. This is the information that I have been sharing with my female networks, and I will not relent in doing so,” she says. RHU implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative, which uses static clinics and outreaches as the main service delivery modes. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT Initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Related: Reproductive Health Uganda: Effectively Responding to the Cervical Cancer Burden Ms. Annet Kyarimpa, the Special Projects Coordinator in the IPPFAR Member Association in Uganda –Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) says that CCSPT Initiative outreach activities provide the biggest bulk of clients (over 75%). The success of this approach is largely attributed to the fact that the outreaches are conducted in lower level health facilities (including government health facilities) that provide a conducive service delivery environment. Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region.

Reproductive Health Uganda
story

| 28 March 2024

"The Day I Faced my Greatest Fear Head-On" -Kellen Mbabazi

Kellen Mbabazi, 25, is married with two children aged 10 years and 4 years. She recently faced one of her greatest fears: getting screened for cervical cancer. “Cancer is a big deal in the community today. There are so many people -including women that I know who have the disease. I also know of families that have lost a loved one to cancer. For a long time, I was so terrified of testing for cervical cancer because I was scared I would get a positive result. I imagined that this would be an automatic death sentence for me, yet I’m still young and with a great future ahead of me. I still plan on getting more children, so I didn’t want to be told that I have cervical cancer,” she confesses. However, one day, Kellen decided to take charge of her own health and mustered the courage to get screened for cervical cancer, having learnt of its importance through a community outreach conducted by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) –Kampala branch. “During the outreach, I heard one of the mobilizers say that with cancer, the key is to detect it early because when it is discovered at a late stage, then it is what might kill you. This information convinced me and that is why I decided to screen for cervical cancer,” she says. Also Read: "The Radio Announcement that Changed My Life" -Gertrude Mugala Kellen then went to the nearby Kiswa Health Center in Kampala, where she met a team from Reproductive Health Uganda who screened her for cervical cancer. Following her experience, which she says was eye-opening, Kellen then decided to become a cervical cancer mobilizer. “My mother and my sisters were the first people I encouraged to come for screening. I then informed my friends and encouraged them to test too. This is something that I will continue doing, because I have realized that it is not the disease that kills people, but fear for testing. Yet, early screening is one of the best solutions to cervical cancer. This is the information that I have been sharing with my female networks, and I will not relent in doing so,” she says. RHU implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative, which uses static clinics and outreaches as the main service delivery modes. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT Initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Related: Reproductive Health Uganda: Effectively Responding to the Cervical Cancer Burden Ms. Annet Kyarimpa, the Special Projects Coordinator in the IPPFAR Member Association in Uganda –Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) says that CCSPT Initiative outreach activities provide the biggest bulk of clients (over 75%). The success of this approach is largely attributed to the fact that the outreaches are conducted in lower level health facilities (including government health facilities) that provide a conducive service delivery environment. Story by Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region.

Family_Health_Options_Kenya
story

| 04 February 2017

"This is the Split-Second Decision I Made One Day that Saved my Life" -Teresia Wangui

One day, while going about her daily activities in her home area in Nakuru, Kenya, 26 year-old Teresia Wangui happened upon a group of people providing medical services. They particularly seemed to be targeting women and since she had a few minutes to spare, she made way to the tent where they were. It was this decision that would save her life –literally. On offer at the medical camp were mobile cervical cancer screening services by the Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) –Nakuru branch. FHOK is the IPPF Africa Region Member Association in Kenya. “When I approached the tent, I found out that they were offering free cervical cancer screening services, and I decided to get tested too because I felt that I needed to know my status,” says Teresia. It was a decision that paid off because Teresia was found to have pre-cancerous lesions. To help allay the development of these lesions into cervical cancer, she was referred for further treatment - cryotherapy, which is a treatment for abnormal cells on the cervix. Cancer of the cervix is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) through sexual contact, with most people acquiring the infection shortly after the onset of unprotected sexual contact. However, pre-cancer lesions of the cervix are easily detectable by a trained medical provider. Regular screening tests can lead to early detection and treatment, which makes cervical cancer highly preventable. “Had I not made that split decision to pop into the medical camp by FHOK, I probably would not be here sharing my story with you today. I’m glad that I was able to be screened and receive treatment. I would advise all ladies to go for cervical cancer screening even if you are young and have not had children, since it affects everyone who is sexually active. I would also like to tell my fellow women not to wait for services to be brought to their doorstep. Cervical cancer screening services are also offered in many clinics, so it is your responsibility to undertake regular checks. You are the one responsible for your own health,” she says. Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem in developing countries, especially in Africa where an estimated 53,000 women die of the disease every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In response to this, FHOK implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative in different parts of the country through its static clinics. The CCSPT Initiative is aimed at improving reproductive health outcomes for women, with specific regard to cervical cancer. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Story by FHOK and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region

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| 28 March 2024

"This is the Split-Second Decision I Made One Day that Saved my Life" -Teresia Wangui

One day, while going about her daily activities in her home area in Nakuru, Kenya, 26 year-old Teresia Wangui happened upon a group of people providing medical services. They particularly seemed to be targeting women and since she had a few minutes to spare, she made way to the tent where they were. It was this decision that would save her life –literally. On offer at the medical camp were mobile cervical cancer screening services by the Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) –Nakuru branch. FHOK is the IPPF Africa Region Member Association in Kenya. “When I approached the tent, I found out that they were offering free cervical cancer screening services, and I decided to get tested too because I felt that I needed to know my status,” says Teresia. It was a decision that paid off because Teresia was found to have pre-cancerous lesions. To help allay the development of these lesions into cervical cancer, she was referred for further treatment - cryotherapy, which is a treatment for abnormal cells on the cervix. Cancer of the cervix is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) through sexual contact, with most people acquiring the infection shortly after the onset of unprotected sexual contact. However, pre-cancer lesions of the cervix are easily detectable by a trained medical provider. Regular screening tests can lead to early detection and treatment, which makes cervical cancer highly preventable. “Had I not made that split decision to pop into the medical camp by FHOK, I probably would not be here sharing my story with you today. I’m glad that I was able to be screened and receive treatment. I would advise all ladies to go for cervical cancer screening even if you are young and have not had children, since it affects everyone who is sexually active. I would also like to tell my fellow women not to wait for services to be brought to their doorstep. Cervical cancer screening services are also offered in many clinics, so it is your responsibility to undertake regular checks. You are the one responsible for your own health,” she says. Cervical cancer remains a major public health problem in developing countries, especially in Africa where an estimated 53,000 women die of the disease every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In response to this, FHOK implements the Cervical Cancer Screening and Preventative Therapy (CCSPT) Initiative in different parts of the country through its static clinics. The CCSPT Initiative is aimed at improving reproductive health outcomes for women, with specific regard to cervical cancer. The CCPT initiative aims at maximizing the number of cancer services offered to women through a validated, low-cost screening and preventative therapy approach. Screening is carried out using Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) -an evidence-based and affordable alternative approach for cervical cancer screening in low-resource settings. The CCSPT initiative offers instant treatment for clients with pre-cancerous lesions using cryotherapy –a method that involves freezing of precancerous lesions. Story by FHOK and Maryanne W. Waweru, IPPF Africa Region