Baylor Eswatini

Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer related deaths among women in Swaziland, but this condition is preventable through regular screening. Although screening facilities are available across Swaziland, the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer remains high and many women present to health facilities with late-stage disease.

 

In response to this problem, Baylor Swaziland launched a screen-and-treat campaign on 13 February 2015, supported by the Swaziland Breast and Cervical Cancer Network with grant funding from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation. A Baylor Swaziland doctor and two nurses joined up with other health experts to form a national cervical cancer advocacy task force, which advocates for prevention and treatment of cervical andbreast cancers. In May 2016, we began training health workers at 12 clinics and three hospitals nationwide in cervical cancer screening using visual inspection using acetic acid (VIA), a simple and low-cost method to identify pre-cancerous lesions. Clinicians were also trained in treating these lesions using cryo-therapy, along with data entry and how to refer patients for specialized care. During these outreach visits, 310 clients received screening, and we performed on-site cryotherapy. Rural communities had higher rates of positive screenings because of limited knowledge about cervical cancer, low perceived risk of acquiring the disease, and limited access to screening services.

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The screen-and-treat campaign has been largely successful, with an increased number of women seeking the service at our Center of Excellence in Mbabane. Between the programme’s launch in February 2015 and the end of 2016, 2,209 screen-ings have been performed, including 1,010 screenings during this reporting period. During the 2016-2017 year, 50 VIAs were positive, and 37 patients received cryotherapy.