RUMONGE March 14th (ABP) – The provincial health office (BPS) in Rumonge (south-west), in collaboration with the NGO CORDAID, organized on Tuesday March 12, a workshop to report on the results of screening and treatment of precancerous lesions, as part of the “Prevention, Screening and Treatment of Precancerous Cervical Lesions Project”.

According to those results, from June to the end of December 2018, 9980 women between 25 and 50 years old were screened. Of these, 366 were declared positive: 321 of them with precancerous lesions. According to Jean Claude Ndikumasabo, provincial doctor, 285 of the 321 were treated directly, but 36 had to wait, because, according to him, there had been a technical problem that is currently resolved. On the other hand, 45 women did not receive treatment, reason why they were transferred to the Kamenge University Hospital Center in Bujumbura to see a specialist because they had lesions not eligible for treatment, with suspicion of cancer. However, he deplores the death of a woman out of 45 who had been able to go to Bujumbura. Those who could not go to Bujumbura explain that they had no means.

The provincial doctor calls on the health facilities that have screened the remaining 44 women to provide their addresses to the administration and to the same health facilities to ensure their transfer to the Kamenge University Hospital Center.

While the 9980 screened only accounted for 16%, when the coverage expected for screening was 40%, Dr. Jean Claude Ndikumasabo said that advanced strategies for maximum coverage will be adopted. The Health Centers (CDS) enrolled (11 of the 46 in the Rumonge health province) will redeploy their staff twice a week to other neighboring CDS, in order to limit the travel of women.  Community health workers, administrative and religious leaders will be encouraged to continue sensitization so that women know that the disease exists and can be treated, he said.

This “Prevention, Screening and Treatment of Cancerous Lesions Project,” implemented by CORDAID, will be closed at the end of 2019. The provincial doctor estimates that despite the withdrawal of CORDAID, the project will continue because the CDS and the Rumonge hospital have already acquired knowledge related to technical skills in the screening and treatment of cancerous lesions. There is already an appropriation that will be included in the services of health facilities, according to Dr. Jean Claude Ndikumasabo.

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