Kaoma District Health Director Dr Idi Mwinyi has thanked CIDRZ for organising and facilitating a 10-day competency-based cervical cancer screening training for health workers in Western Province.

Dr Mwinyi said Kaoma District previously experienced challenges in managing cervical cancer cases effectively due to the limited number of medical personnel trained as Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) providers.

He said the training by CIDRZ has empowered the district to handle more cervical cancer cases and reduce the number of referrals to Lewanika General Hospital and the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

“With the increased capacity through this new LEEP provider training, we hope to manage more cases within the district, streamlining patient care,” Dr Mwinyi said.

Dr Mwinyi also stated that the district has continued implementing various community sensitisation programmes to educate women about cervical cancer risks, symptoms, and prevention methods.

“We engage with communities through informational sessions for patients visiting our health facilities, radio programmes, one-on-one consultations, distribution of Information, Education and Communication (IEC) material and outreach activities to ensure that everyone is informed and able to access these critical services,” he explained.

Recognising the significant influence men have on women’s healthcare decisions, Dr Mwinyi stated that these sensitisation programmes also target men regarding cervical cancer, as they often play a pivotal role in supporting women in screening, treatment, and prevention.

With support from The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through CDC Zambia and in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, CIDRZ’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Programme focuses on providing technical assistance through training, mentorship, and quality improvement initiatives.