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EP286 Médecins sans frontière‘s cervical cancer project in malawi: a collaborative and comprehensive strategy against cervical cancer
  1. P-F Dupré1,2,
  2. L Gadama3,4,
  3. R Asgary5,
  4. P Bonongwe6,
  5. M Iwamoto7,
  6. L Masamba8,
  7. E Brown9,
  8. J Ordi10,11,
  9. P Poulain12,
  10. C Rieux7,
  11. C Mills13,
  12. C Fotteringham13 and
  13. D Maman13
  1. 1Oncology and Haematology Insitute, Academic Hospital of Brest
  2. 2INSERM UMR 1078, Brest, France
  3. 3Obstertic and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabetth Hospital
  4. 4College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi
  5. 5Internal Medicine, Weil Cornell Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
  6. 6Obstetric and Gynaecology, Queen Elizabetth Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
  7. 7Médecin Sans Frontière, Paris, France
  8. 8Oncology, Queen Elizabetth Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi
  9. 9Edinburgh Cancer Center, Edinburgh, UK
  10. 10Pathology, Department of Pathology, Hospital Clínic
  11. 11Centre de Recerca en Salut Internacional de Barcelona (CRESIB), Barcelona, Spain
  12. 12Douleurs Sans Frontière
  13. 13Médecins Sans Frontière, Paris, France

Abstract

Introduction/Background Malawi has the highest cervical cancer incidence (76/100 000) and mortality rate (50/100 000) in the world representing 3 684 new cases and 2 314 deaths annually.

In response to this need, Médecins Sans Frontière (MSF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and The College of Medicine (CoM) is implementing a unique comprehensive oncology project from prevention and screening to treatment in the Blantyre and Chiradzulu districts in Malawi.

Methodology The project aims to encompass all components of gynecologic oncology care through a collaborative work of a multidisciplinary team embedded at the tertiary Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) and community health centers.

MSF Set up a dedicated team sustained with a multi-year funding in order to fulfill the following objectives:

  • To cover all girls 9 to 14 with HPV vaccines starting 2020.

  • To reach 80% screening coverage for women 25 to 49 by 2022 in the targeted areas.

  • To strengthen gynecologic oncology treatment and medical education capacity at QECH.

Results Cervical cancer screening is based on the Visual Inspection with Acetic acid (VIA).

Invasive cancers will be treated according to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Cervical Cancer Basic Resources Guidelines.

A new Out and In-Patient department have been built as well as a new dedicated Operative theater expected to be active in October 2019.

An Electronical Medical Record and a Cervical Cancer Register are currently being developed in order to open up opportunities for clinical research.

A multi-step medical education plan is also set up for OBGYN Registrars and Gynecological Oncologist sub-specialists in collaboration with ESGO.

Conclusion The MoH, the CoM of Malawi and MSF respond to the WHO ‘global call’ towards elimination of Cervical Cancer through a unique comprehensive project.

Transitional support of Gynecol Oncologists is required to ensure its perennial success.

Disclosure Nothing to disclose.

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