“I survived cervical cancer and no woman should die from cervical cancer.”, says Alice, not her real name, from Chingola, Copperbelt Province in Zambia.
Women living with HIV, like Alice, are at a higher risk of developing and dying from cervical cancer due to their compromised immunity. However, due to stigma and limited awareness and accessibility to services, many HIV positive women are never screened for cervical cancer.
The Supporting an AIDS Free Era (SAFE) program, funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief and USAID, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, are fighting cervical cancer by ensuring women living with HIV are screened, tested, diagnosed, and treated.
SAFE uses targeted methods to reach women living with HIV in rural and urban areas to share health education, reduce stigma, and encourage screening for cervical cancer. Women living with HIV are also contacted by phone and informed of the screening outreach programs happening in their communities. SAFE supported clinics provide cervical screening, counseling, and referrals for additional cervical cancer services including biopsies and surgery. SAFE also works with traditional and community leaders to support their health education efforts and reduce stigma.
Alice was identified through one of SAFE’s interventions. A healthcare worker at Nchanga North General Hospital asked if she wanted to be screened for cervical cancer. “It was in 2014 when I came to the Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) clinic for my appointment….I hesitated since I was just fine, nothing was paining in my body.” Her healthcare worker encouraged her to go for screening and explained that cervical cancer or pre cervical cancer may not make her feel sick or in pain. She agreed and was screened and provided same-day results.
The results from Alice’s initial screening at the cervical cancer clinic were concerning and she was referred for further evaluation and a biopsy. Her biopsy came back positive for Squamous Carcinoma of the cervix - stage 2 cervical cancer.
Alice was sent to Ndola Central Hospital for counseling and to discuss surgery. Alice recalled, “…they asked me how many children I have and I said two…They told me that they will operate on me and remove my uterus, and I agreed since I wanted to be cured.”
After her surgery, Alice visits the clinic each year to review her case, re-screen, and scan for cervical cancer. To date, there is no sign of cancer in her body.
Alice is now an advocate for women in her community. She explains, “I am glad I went for screening…. though nothing was paining…I have now started encouraging my fellow women to go for cancer screening which is very beneficial for every woman.”
In 2020, USAID SAFE screened over 55,000 women on ART for cervical cancer.
USAID SAFE