Our Approach
Our Approach
Zambia
Working closely with the Zambian Ministry of Health and other local, national and international partners, the Friends of Africa, Inc. played a central role in the development of women’s cancer prevention and care services: Over 1,000,000 women have been screened for cervical cancer; breast cancer early detection and surgical treatment opportunities have been exponentially increased at a novel one-stop breast care clinic; and a gynecologic oncology fellowship training program has been established at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka.
Democratic Republic
of the Congo
Through a public-private partnership with the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, the Friends of Africa, Inc. established cervical cancer screening and early detection breast clinics, a women’s cancer surgical unit, and chemotherapy services at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in Kinshasa, DRC.
Malawi
Using a nontraditional approach to training, we significantly shortened the time required to teach an important gynecologic oncology surgical procedure in a very low resource African setting, resulting in immediate capacity building. As a result, life-saving surgical care for women with early-stage cervical cancer is now available for the first time, as a routine clinical service, in Central/Northern, Malawi, at Kamuzu Central Hospital.
Rwanda
The Ministry of Health of Rwanda, through the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, launched a cervical cancer campaign in rural Rwanda where 15,000 women were screened for cervical and breast cancer over a 6-week period. The Friends of Africa, Inc. provided technical assistance and financial support.
Sierra Leone
In collaboration with the Reproductive Unit of the Ministry of Health, and with the strong support of the Minister of Health (Dr. Austin Demby), the Friends of Africa, Inc. supports the expansion of the cervical cancer prevention program in Sierra Leone. A team of doctors and expert screening nurses from Zambia provided theoretical, simulation and hands-on training clinics in the capital city of Freetown.
Dr. Austin Demby (L) - Minister of Health Sierra Leone - meets with
Professor Groesbeck Parham, CEO Friends of Africa, Inc.
Improving Women's Cancer Services in Africa
By forming partnerships with key local healthcare providers, investing in human resource development and procuring equipment and supplies, the Friends of Africa, Inc. builds women’s cancer care service platforms.