Integrating Novel Tools to Enhance Gynaecological Research and Treatment In Eswatini
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established strategic goals for the elimination of Cervical Cancer, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS), and treatment of soil-transmitted helminths. Our project will empower women through a woman-centered health implementation research project encompassing two objectives:
1. Increased access to an improved healthcare system;
2. Strengthening the healthcare system by facilitating a greater involvement of nurses, midwives and community motivators to support gynecologists’, medical doctors and their entire healthcare system.
Project INTEGRATE is made possible through a partnership between HPV Global Action (Canada/Netherlands), Family Life Association of Swaziland (FLAS), Ministry of Health in Eswatini (MoHE), National Institute of Health (NCI, US), BRIGHT Academy (South Africa), University of KwaZulu Natal (South Africa), Oslo University Hospital (Norway), University of Agder (Norway), Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital – CIUSSS West-Central Montreal (Canada). Together we are putting forth an integrated approach to 4 WHO objectives for disease control through a «one-stop shop» method to offer women an opportunity to address their gynaecological needs during a two-hour visit, using integrated approaches to ensure sustainable systemic change.
An inter-disciplinary team will be validating this novel diagnostic tool – the Automated Visual Evaluation (AVE) – to simultaneously screen for FGS and cervical pre-cancers to reduce the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer and FGS. It will address morbidity and co-conditions in resource-limited settings. The AVE is a promising low-cost visual screening tool connected to a mobile smartphone device, which will promote continued research and the use of innovative equipment within the healthcare system of low-resource settings.
