Scientific & Research
Research is a necessary process to acquire new knowledge and understand cancer-related phenomena, in Movicancer we are committed to promote and strength research allowing us to observe, analyze, plan, project, construct and execute cost-effective interventions in order to promote cancer control, this facilitates the introduction of effective technologies that can be used in a sustainable way.
In line with this goal, we have been supporting the Ministry of Health in adopting new technologies of high efficacy and low cost for cervical cancer prevention. Through the HPV test screening project we are empowering women in their own health care to prevent cervical cancer.
More than 83 thousand women have been benefited, but we want to reach out to many more, especially to those with limited resources from rural areas, which have been reluctant to PAP test. With this new test is no longer necessary to examine all women, but rather let them “self test”. More Than 96% of beneficiated women have chosen this modality, allowing us to increase the National Program coverage for women cancer prevention!
One of the benefits of adding the HPV test is that women can undergo cervical cancer testing less frequently. Learn what women think about this new low-cost technology and why it is important to continue this strategy to national coverage.
New HPV Test-Movicancer Project
Over the years, Nicaragua has been making efforts in order to reduce cervical cancer incidence and and mortality. Since 2007, the government goals have been focused into seek creative and innovative solutions to let women achieve their more health and life desire.
We have been developing a project for HPV DNA test as primary screening mothod since 2015 (hybrid capture of 14 high-risk types of HPV). This project has been implemented in two phases: the pilotage, involved 18 municipalities among the departments of Chinandega (4), Chontales (10) and Carazo (4); in the expansion phase, it included 3 municipalities of Chinandega). There are 25 municipalities that are currently being benefit from this new technology.
“The molecular tests are here and they’re not leaving!” The HPV test is gaining a lot of popularity among women, especially in those in rural area, why? The HPV test does not require, as in the case of a Pap smear, a pelvic exam by a health professional when it is desired to prevent cervical cancer. This video explains this and more reasons to consider its widespread use in prevention and control programs.
The project has been focused into beneficiating women from 30 to 59 years old, because they represent the highest risk population for precancerous lesions and cervical cancer; According to the natural history knowledge for HPV infection.
83.000 tests were donated; 10.000 for the piloting phase and 73.000 for the expansion phase, trying to reach an average coverage of 60% in two years for these 3 SILAIS. The strategy has been conducted with the support and technical assistance of Movicancer Foundation and the direct execution of the Ministry of Health.
A new screening and follow-up strategy has been successfully validated and implemented under the responsibility of Ministry of Health, where “opportunistic” recruitment has shifted to an active search for women at risk at the Community level.
It has been demostrated that deployment of the new screening technology is feasible and viable in terms of achieving goals. 59,365 women have been screened out of 83,000 tests donated, (71.52% of the target), with 8,547 women with positive result (14.40% positiveness).
The project has validated a cost-effective method with significant potential to contribute in a preventive manner to decrease in the incidence and mortality from this disease. The cost-effectiveness of the method is obtained by the test cost, sensitivity, range of screening and the reduced number of tests required in life of women in comparison with the method based on cervical cytology. The project respond to the need of increase the screening coverage in population at higher risk and promote a more protagonist role for women in her selfcare.
Our goal: more innovation for less cancer…
Since 2014, Movicancer, with international assistance, has been supporting the Ministry of Health in the introduction and implementation of the HPV Test.