Elekta Foundation has started with a campaign on cervical cancer in Rwanda.
The Elekta Foundation has officially signed an agreement with the Ministry of Health of Rwanda and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) on the 18th of June in Kigali. The main objective of this project is to improve access to cervical cancer screening and treatment.
Since September 2022 and as of 4 January 2023, 20,000 women from rural villages have been tested for HPV, the virus responsible for cervical cancer. Over 600 women were treated for precancerous lesions. Five patients diagnosed with cervical cancer are receiving advanced treatment.
This is first implemented in the Gicumbi district, but the Foundation intends to scale-up to the rest of the country. Our strategy is to create a successful model that can be emulated or adapted across the region and countries.
This first pilot sends a strong message of hope, as cervical cancer is preventable and curable if detected at an early stage. The Elekta Foundation ambition is to participate in the elimination of this leading cause of cancer death among African women.
The Foundation collaborates with key partners that acknowledge the importance of joining forces to tackle cervical cancer:
Rwandan Ministry of Health
Rwanda Biomedical Center
Rwanda Society for Family Health
Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI)
Source: WHO | Learn more about the Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative
