Cervical cancer survivors praise URDT project for lifesaving interventions

31 August 2025, 11:15 am

By James Muhumuza

The survivors and project leaders have jointly called for increased awareness and continued community participation in cervical cancer screening and treatment to save more lives.

Cervical cancer survivors in the Greater Kibaale region have commended the Uganda Rural Development and Training (URDT) Cervical Cancer Project for rescuing them through early screening and treatment.

The appreciation was voiced during a three-day media impact coverage held this week in Kibaale (Wednesday), Kagadi (Thursday) and Kakumiro (Friday).

The team visited homes of women who had been screened and treated under the project before the disease advanced.

The women testified that they were healed after early detection, having first learned about the services through radio talk shows conducted by the project team.

They further rallied fellow women to embrace screening and ignore traditions and propaganda surrounding the process if they are to safeguard their lives.

In an interview with KKCR FM, the project coordinator Shamim Namagembe revealed that the initiative, which resumed in 2024 after a two-year period will run until 2026.

She said the project partners with several health facilities across the three districts, including Kagadi General Hospital, Nyamarunda Health Centre III and Kakumiro Health Centre IV among others, as well as village outreaches and Village Health Teams.

Namagembe explained that the program targets women aged between 25 and 49 years, noting that since its resumption, 12,666 women have been screened against the target of 15,000.

Out of these, 945 were treated for the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer, while 39 women already affected by the disease were referred to referral hospitals in Hoima, Mubende and the Uganda Cancer Institute in Kampala.

She further emphasised the need for preventive measures.

She urged men to avoid unprotected sex with multiple partners, the use of unsafe practices such as inserting objects or herbs into women’s private parts and poor hygiene all of which contribute to the spread of HPV.