CDC, the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) work together to plan the Caribbean hub of cancer registries.
Front row, left to right: Babatunde Olowokure, CARPHA; Betsy Kohler, NAACCR; Dr. Brenda Edwards, NCI; Glennis Andall Breton, CARPHA; Dr. Rachael Joseph, CDC; Dr. Mona Saraiya, CDC. Back row, left to right: Donald Simeon, CARPHA; Les Mary, IARC; Dr. Damali Martin, CARPHA; James Hospedales, CARPHA; Sara Quesnell Crooks, CARPHA; Dr. John Flanigan, NCI; Marsha Ivey, CARPHA.
Helping Organize Population-Based Cancer Screening Programs
Cervical cancer initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean. Working with the PAHO, ACS, and others, CDC collaborates with local health leaders to improve cervical cancer screening programs. Activities focus on strengthening cancer screening programs in Bolivia and El Salvador and on developing training materials and tools to help public health workers establish strong programs.
Pink Ribbon Red Ribbon. CDC works with several partners on this initiative that builds on current health care activities in sub-Saharan Africa to provide HIV/AIDS and cancer screening and treatment services that reduce deaths from breast and cervical cancer. CDC is also helping to develop global standards, tools, and guidance to make data available for planning and improving global cervical cancer programs.
Comprehensive cervical cancer control guidelines. CDC supports the WHO to update and distribute guidelines for controlling cervical cancer. These guidelines help public health and health care professionals make decisions about the best ways to prevent and treat cervical cancer in their countries.
Improving the Way Partner Countries Collect and Analyze Information About Cancer
Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR). Cancer registries are programs that collect data on cancer cases in a given population. The IARC works with CDC and other partners to establish six regional support centers that provide training and assistance to cancer registries around the world. CDC supports these centers in Asia and Africa and is working to start a new support center for the Caribbean.
Cancer registry cost assessment tool. CDC developed and is piloting a tool for cancer registries in many of its partner countries. The tool helps public health leaders estimate the costs of creating and maintaining cancer registries, so they can make the most appropriate decisions about including registries in their national cancer plans.
Using Research to Improve Cancer Policies and Plans
Strengthening cervical cancer screening in Thailand. CDC is working with the Thai Ministry of Public Health and the Thai National Cancer Institute to increase the accuracy of cervical cancer screening by introducing primary human papillomavirus (HPV) testing.
Alternative approaches to cervical cancer screening in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands. Since these areas face unique geographic challenges and have limited resources to process Pap tests, alternative screening methods such as visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and primary HPV testing may allow more women to be screened as recommended. CDC worked with partners to organize an expert panel to make recommendations for improving screening and is designing a demonstration project with primary HPV testing to increase cervical cancer screening.
Cervical cancer research in Kenya. CDC partners with the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) to understand community knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about cervical cancer screening and treatment and HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer. CDC also works with the Ministry of Health and KEMRI to use the research to help develop communication, education, and training efforts in Kenya and to plan similar studies in other countries.
Teaching Public Health Staff in Partner Countries
Cancer training curriculum. CDC is working with the U.S. National Cancer Institute to create a training curriculum to teach public health staff how to prevent and control cancer. Field epidemiology training programs and Ministry of Health personnel are among those who participate in the trainings.
