Piloting a Model for Cervical Cancer Screening Through Community Outreach and Government Capacity Building in India

PURPOSE India accounts for nearly a third of global cervical cancer deaths. These cancers can be prevented or detected early through screening. Despite the existence of a national guideline and program, cervical cancer screening availability at primary health centers (PHCs) in India is low, and programs target only symptomatic women. In communities there is lack of awareness, inaccessibility, and stigma. METHODS Cancer Awareness, Prevention, and Early Detection Trust (CAPED) is a community outreach organization that promotes cancer prevention and early detection in India. With support from American Cancer Society (ACS), CAPED implemented a cervical cancer awareness & screening project pilot in collaboration with the Gurugram Health Department, Haryana State from February to December 2022. The pilot used a collaborative model to engage leadership at all levels in the government health system–district, PHCs, community health workers (CHWs), and community members to increase cervical cancer screening uptake. The pilot involved six core areas of work (1) advocacy and coordination with the district-level leadership for the inclusion of asymptomatic women in government-led screening camps, (2) certification of PHC nurses to deliver cervical screening services, (3) training CHW on cervical cancer prevention and early detection, (4) support for CHW door-to-door mobilization in targeted villages, (5) logistic support at screening camps, and (6) navigation for women with positive screens. RESULTS CAPED India and Gurugram district health department successfully collaborated to train 213 CHWs and 61 PHC staff nurses covering 73 villages, who mobilized 5,653 women to get cervical cancer screening. Women who tested positive were navigated to further testing and/or treatment. This pilot project laid the foundation for the development of an Implementation Guide for Community Organisations to Strengthen Policy and Practice for Cervical Cancer Prevention. In 2024, this implementation guide will be used to replicate and validate the pilot project strategies and resources across two new geographies through partnership with local cancer organizations as implementing organizations. CONCLUSION Cervical cancer is preventable. This rapid presentation or poster will provide an overview of the 2022 pilot project, as well as current progress and lessons learned during the roll out and use of the implementation guide.