In June 2016 the second group of NJIA participants, from international pharmaceutical company Roche and the Tanzanian health sector, came together in Bukoba, Tanzania to develop leadership skills, improve access to cervical cancer services and ultimately save lives. 

On the project front, there are lots of exciting new initiatives planned to help increase access to cervical cancer services in the remote region of Kagera.

One group of participants made the boat journey to Ikuza Island, one of 33 remote islands situated off the coast of Muleba. Currently there are no cervical cancer screening services available on the islands, despite the area being a priority for the Tanzanian government. The team are working to create the first screening site on Ikuza Island and, following the June programme,  a nurse at the Kasenyi Dispensary on the island has already been trained.

Another group of participants aim to create a much-needed additional cervical cancer screening site at Nyakatuntu dispensary in Kyerwa. A nurse will be trained, a dedicated space within the dispensary identified and the necessary materials provided.

We hope that 3,500 women can be screened over a 6 year period, which could potentially result in saving up to 50 lives.

We look forward to hearing about the development of these new screening sites.