Local Update: Moving along in Kigoma

Annah welcoming community women

We just received an update from Dr. Annah Kichambati of the Jane Goodall Institute in Kigoma, Tanzania. Annah is a medical officer and expert community trainer who has assumed the role as coordinator of our Kigoma Cervical Cancer Collaboration. Annah has an incredible presence.

Since we left Kigoma just over a month ago, another 226 women have been screened for cervical cancer using the simple vinegar test (VIA). All ten clinicians continue screening women in their health centers and the referral network for those needing care is smooth.

Thus far, 23 women have been identified with VIA positive lesions and 20 of them have received treatment with cryotherapy. Three still need treatment and their referrals are being monitored by Dr. Annah. She will ensure that those women received simple treatment with cryotherapy.

Dr. James Jumanne and nurse midwife Odes Kagize

Pictured here are Dr. James Jumanne and nurse midwife Odes Kagize. They have been organizing screening campaigns on their day off from their jobs and serving local communities where cervical cancer prevention screening would otherwise be unavailable. Together they have screened 118 women for cervical cancer in the past 6 weeks and followed all women with positive results to ensure they received appropriate treatment. Kazi nzuri!