Funded by the European Union under the International Scientific Cooperation Projects (INCO), the Mombasa Cervical Cancer Screening Project (MCCSP) was implemented through a partnership between the University of Ghent (Belgium), International Centre for Reproductive Health–Kenya (ICRHK), Makerere University (Kampala), and the University of Nairobi.
Conducted at the Coast General Hospital in Mombasa, the project sought to integrate cervical cancer screening and treatment services into existing health facilities, improving access and early detection among women at risk.
Impact
Through this initiative, ICRHK and partners:
- Expanded access to cervical cancer screeningby integrating services within routine reproductive health programs.
- Assessed community outreach strategiesto enhance coverage of women at risk for cervical pre-cancer.
- Evaluated the performanceof multiple screening methods — including Papanicolaou (PAP) smear, visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA), and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) testing — under real-world, resource-limited conditions.
- Piloted and validated “see and treat” approaches, providing same-day diagnosis and treatment for pre-cancerous lesions.
- Established a cervical cancer task forcein Mombasa to strengthen coordination, policy development, and sustainability of cervical cancer prevention and treatment in urban Kenya.
