Sept 10-15 2018. Professor von Knebel-Doeberitz visits our partners at Gondar university.

Between Sept 10-15 2018 Professor von Knebel met the team of the department of gynecology and the Institute of Public Health of the University of Gondar. He visited the newly emerging gyn-oncology unit, spent a day in a rural community, where the ETiCCS team jointly with the Institute of Public Health has a conducted  this year a cervical cancer screening campaign and visited the new Amhara Public Health Laboratory at Bahirdar, where HPV testing will be set up. Prof von Knebel was particularly touched by the true hospitality and modesty he met at all levels amidst huge challenges and needs.

Prof von Knebel Doeberitz with field coordinator Mr Masresha Baye
Prof. von Knebel Doeberitz, Dr(s) Mulat , Getachew and Bussmann at the Gondar university outpatient department

May 18, 2018. Dr Bernhard Haufiku, Namibia’s Minister of Health and Social Services, visits the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg

On May 18, 2018 Dr Haufiku and Mr Axel Tibinyane met with Prof M. Pawlita, Head of Division of Molecular Diagnostics of Oncogenic Infections, and H Bussmann, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Biology, to share their mutual interests in HPV-based screening and explore opportunites for collaboration.

M-Pawlita, B. Haufiku,H Bussmann and A.Tibinyane at DKFZ, Heidelberg

May 19, 2018. Dr Tedros, WHO Director-General, launches call to action to eliminate cervical cancer at Geneva meeting

At the occasion of the 3rd Geneva Round Table ‘Cervical Cancer: An NCD We Can Overcome‘ on May 19, 2018 Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called for all countries to take action to help end the suffering caused by cervical cancer. Accompanied by Dr Michelle Bachelet, former President of Chile and Dr Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, Dr Tedros reminded us of the terrible toll taken by cervical cancer which he recognized as one of the most preventable and treatable forms of cancer. With all tools for elimination now available, he called for a coordinated action to globally eliminate cervical cancer.

Dr Tedros and Dr Bachelet at Geneva Round Table

Mar 4-6, 2018. ETiCCS network meeting with WAKA HPV

On Mar 4-6, 2018 H. Bussmann met with John-Paul Bogerts, Jo Lissens and Jean-Pierre Van geertruyden at Antwerp to plan the future collaboration. During the vist Dr Omenge from Eldoret, Kenya, registered as PhD candidate at the University and together we visited the Algemeen Medisch Laboratorium (AML) where Davy Vanden Broeck presented different HPV testing platforms.

Visit at AML, Antwerp. Dr O. Orang’o, HnBussmann, D. Vanden Broeck and JP Bogers (RTL)
Dr O.Orang’o discussing his PhD thesis at University of Antwerp

Community mobilization for Cervical Cancer screening campaign

November 26, 2017 by Felix Jede

In preparation of the cervical cancer screening campaign the community of Chila was engaged by mobilizing and educating the local health care workers including the health extension workers of the health post and the Health Development Army Leaders of each ward. The campaign was officially announced by the health officials of the Amharic Health bureau and the village administration. Community sensitization included educational talks at local church meetings.

 

Cancer awareness for the health development army leaders

The field team

Official announcement of the campaign by Dr. Molla

 

 

Training of data collectors for HPV self-sampling campaign in Dabat, Ethiopia

November 22, 2017 by Felix Jede

Between 4-10 November 2017 Theresa Brandt, Felix Jede and Hermann Bussmann conducted in Dabat, Ethiopia a 7-day training workshop for field worker in the use of self-sampling for HPV-based cervical cancer screening.

The aim of the workshop was to equip a team of field worker with the competence in raising cancer awareness, facilitating self-collection of an HPV sample using the Evalyn brush® and capturing the necessary screening data on electronic tablet devices. The skills were subsequently applied during a community-wide cervical cancer campaign in the Dabat district.

 

Theresa Brandt is explaining the data collectors how to use the tablets

Solomon Berhe is teaching about cervical cancer

Theresa Brandt and Felix Jede are presenting the rucksack and content for the data collectors

 

Training of health care workers in self sampling in Ethiopia

On February 15th 2017 twelve midwives were trained in genital self sampling using the Evalyn Brush® at Gondar University Hospital  as preparation of community wide HPV-screening project. Instructions for women to take part in the screening project are currently being prepared in Amharic.

Training in portable colposcopy

Training in portable colposcopy at Gondar University

Portable colposcopes such as the Gynocular™, developed for remote settings, allow the visualization of the cervix with a high magnification in contrast to examination with the naked eye as done by standard VIA. The Gynocular™ also offers digital documentation of the findings and sharing of the image with remotely situated experts. The device is thus ideal for training, consultation and quality control. The method is suitable for screening used by nurses in peripheral clinics as confirmed several studies.

Class room training

 

Introduction into the Gynoccular® device

facilitators Hermann Bussmann,Solomon Behre, Alexander Luyten and Katahauni Tagveri

6 gynecologists and 6 nurse/midwives already experienced in VIA participated in this 5-day course that was facilitated by Dr(s) Alexander Luyten from Wolfsburg Women’s hospital and Katahauni Tagveri from Inselspital Bern. The training included both classroom and practical sessions and a post-training skills evaluation.

As a next step a field study is planned to appraise the value of nurse-led portable colposcopy for peripheral settings.