WHAT WE DO
Improving cervical cancer
prevention worldwide

Our vision

The aim of the ETiCCS program is to curb death and suffering from cervical cancer particularly in underprivileged and remote areas of the world.

ETiCCS will stand by the following principles:

To reach all
Establishing broad access to screening even for women living in remote areas.

Many women especially in Africa never had the opportunity of being screened for cervical cancer. Every woman should have the opportunity to be screened for cervical cancer at least once in her lifetime between the age of 30-39 years.
To deliver high quality of care
Highly accurate screening tests and well trained health workers who provide preventive and curative treatment are key for a safe and effective screening program
To strengthen local health care
Health facilities – often overburdened in resource poor countries – are crucial in cervical cancer prevention. Two-stage testing (HPV test followed by specific test) shifts the initial huge burden away from the clinic and frees time and staff for those women who are in need of treatment. Advanced Information Technology support will further unburden the health facilities and improve data quality and storage.
To be sustainable
Advances in health and Information Technology will be used to overcome unworkable and inoperable screening programs. Through inclusion and collaboration with industry we envision to build sustainable solutions.

Why we do it

Cervical cancer is preventable
Screening for pre-cancer (secondary prevention) – as successfully demonstrated in resource-rich countries – remains the key prevention strategy for the vast majority of women.
Primary prevention is now possible through vaccination of adolescent girls and young women against HPV infection. In future vaccination programs will hopefully have a huge impact on cervical cancer prevention including in resource-poor countries.
cervical cancer is a disease of disparity and poverty
Cervical cancer is unevenly distributed globally.
- Women in resource-poor countries and especially in Africa are disproportionately affected by cervical cancer. In East Africa, the rate of women with cervical cancer is 10 times higher than in resource-rich countries of Europe and USA – most of these cancers are diagnosed in an advanced stage.
Cervical cancer risk is highest where health care systems are fragile.
- In many African countries the opportunity for a woman to get screened at least once in her lifetime is scarce or non-existing. Cervical cancer, however, is a disease that can be well prevented through an organized prevention program.
- In most African settings there is severe lack of specialized doctors, drugs and equipment to treat even an early stage cancer.
Women are affected in the prime of their lives.
- In most African societies women play a key role in the economic development through and in addition to giving support and care to their family.
- Women, however, are also vulnerable,- disadvantaged by traditional social norms and by often inadequately met women’s health needs.

How we do it

ETiCCS will combine innovative developments in information technology and cervical cancer screening

novel diagnostic tools that achieves a high screening accuracy
cutting-edge information technology that ensures safe, high-quality, and efficient data collection and result dissemination

In addition ETiCCS will

build capacity through training and raising of awareness
establish synergies with other programs incl. HIV prevention

WHAT WE DO:

Screening Process at-a-glance

HOW WE DO IT

Jointly with local health facilities women who attend clinic services are made awareness about cervical cancer and the opportunity of cervical cancer screening.
Recruiters will electronically collect pertinent health information and contact details.
Trained nurses will collect a cervical sample which is sent to a locally established specialized laboratory for HPV screening and- if positive- biomarker testing (CINtecPlus).
Women will be informed about test results via cellphone or home visit.
Biomarker positive women will be invited to the clinic for additional tests and /or treatment if needed.
Anonymized (delinked) screening results will be stored electronically for future screening activities if needed.

Screening process at-a-glance

1. Community Concern

Community talks about health issues including cervical cancer (CC).

2. Community Mobilisation

Community health workers inform about CC program during time limited campaign.

3. Household screening visit

At home visit during screening campaign, woman self-collects a sample for HPV testing

Health worker carries self-sample registered on e-tablet

4. Laboratory investigation

At laboratory, lab technician performs HPV test on self-sample

5. Delivery of results

Patient gets notified by cellphone about HPV result

6. Walk to clinic

HPV-positive patient has an appointment at the clinic

7. Clinic visit

HPV-positive patient gets examined and, when necessary, treated

8. Screening completed

Patient has successfully completed the screening process

Current Status and future plans

PILOT STUDY in KENYA AND ETHIOPIA
ETiCCS currently conducts a pilot study to validate in the field the performance and the acceptance of a highly accurate screening tool (bio-marker) and modern information technology to track women at-risk for further management. In healthcare facilities of Eldoret in Kenya and Gondar in Ethiopia approximately 800 women will be invited to participate in the study, which is partly funded by the BMBF. The study will be conducted between January and December 2015.
CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING IN DIFFERENT COUNTRIES
In a next phase the ETiCCS screening approach will be extended to other rural communities in Africa and South America.

WHAT WE DO
Improving cervical cancer
prevention worldwide

Our vision »

Why we do it »

How we do it »

Current status and future plans »

Our vision

To reach all

To deliver high quality of care

To strengthen local health care

To be sustainable

Why we do it

Cervical cancer is preventable

cervical cancer is a disease of disparity and poverty