In Uganda, millions of women are unable to access needed sexual and reproductive health services due to poverty, gender disparities, and healthcare gaps. Cervical cancer, a preventable disease, is the most common form of cancer among Ugandan women, with 4,607 women dying from the disease each year, and only 10% of women ages 30-40 having ever been screened. A majority of women in the rural West Nile Region of Uganda lack knowledge about cervical cancer, are out of reach of health facilities, and experience shame or stigma associated with being screened at a public health facility for a disease related to their sexual and reproductive health.

One Day’s Wages partnered with Partners in Community Social Action (PICSA) to decrease the prevalence of cervical cancer in Moyo District through at-home screening and treatment of cancerous lesions. In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, PICSA trained 200 community health workers to conduct awareness sessions on cervical cancer, reproductive health, family planning, sexual rights, and sexually transmitted infections. Health workers went door-to-door to educate women about screening, offer at-home screening tests, and analyze the results. Another 50 health professionals were trained to use thermocoagulators to treat lesions and eliminate the spread of cancerous cells. Of the 2,782 women screened, 2.3% tested positive and were referred to local hospitals for treatment, and another 3.9% were referred to local clinics for family planning services. The uptick in screenings reflects increased community awareness and improved capacity of health workers.