HPV Testing is Step Up By Zambia: Faces a significant challenge in the realm of cervical cancer, ranking as the third country globally with the highest burden of this disease. In 2020, the incidence rate stood at 65.5 per 100,000 women, coupled with a mortality rate of 43.4 per 100,000 women.
It is disheartening to note that despite being a preventable and treatable ailment, cervical cancer contributes to approximately 23% of all new cancer cases in the country. The age group most affected at the time of diagnosis falls between 40 and 49 years old. This underscores the pressing need for enhanced preventive measures and accessible treatments to combat the pervasive impact of cervical cancer in Zambia.
Past Steps Against Cervical Cancer
In tackling this formidable challenge, Zambia has been actively engaged in a comprehensive screening program since 2006. The primary screening tool employed is visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA). Notably, cervical cancer screening has been seamlessly integrated into the HIV program, recognizing the elevated risk for women living with HIV to develop cervical cancer.
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Since its initiation, the VIA screening approach has been applied to examine over 1.5 million women. However, despite these efforts, the overall coverage at the population level remains relatively low, hovering around 26%. This indicates the need for further initiatives to enhance the reach and impact of cervical cancer screening programs throughout Zambia.
Current Steps By Zambia
In 2019, Zambia initiated a pilot project aimed at the introduction of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, recognized for its heightened accuracy and sensitivity in cervical cancer screening. Given that repeated infection with specific HPV strains constitutes the primary cause of cervical cancer, early detection assumes paramount importance in preventing the disease’s progression. This project strategically utilizes existing HIV clinics as the point of entry and has successfully validated two distinct centralized testing and near point-of-care platforms.
As of 2021, Zambia has successfully expanded HPV testing across all 10 provinces, establishing 10 regional central laboratories. This expansion aligns with the objectives outlined by the World Health Organization’s (WHO) global Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative. Zambia’s overarching goal is to achieve 90% HPV vaccination coverage, 70% screening coverage, and 90% treatment and care coverage by the year 2030.
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Since the introduction of HPV testing, over 110,000 tests have conducted. In the year 2023 alone, more than 40,000 women underwent screening utilizing the HPV-based method. This progress underscores Zambia’s commitment to advancing cervical cancer prevention strategies and aligns with international efforts towards the global elimination of cervical cancer.
Zambia’s Vision For 2030 Against Cervical Cancer
Dr. Kennedy Lishimpi, from the Technical Services Department and serving as the Permanent Secretary, emphasizes the Zambian government’s unwavering commitment to accelerating progress toward achieving WHO targets by 2030. Leveraging the intervention of HPV testing, Zambia aspires to alleviate the burden of cervical cancer and safeguard the lives of countless women.
This endeavor has received steadfast support from both the government and collaborative partners, including the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and the Global Fund. The introduction and subsequent scaling-up of HPV testing mark significant milestones in the collective effort to combat cervical cancer in Zambia.
To enhance accessibility and convenience for women, the innovative approach of self-sampling testing has introduced. This option aims to empower women and increase their participation in the screening process. Currently, the single-visit screen and treat approach are actively being implemente in 345 facilities, where the self-sampling option is readily available, further promoting a comprehensive and woman-centered approach to cervical cancer prevention.
Source:- WHO ZAMBIA
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