The Epicentre Strategy Hosts Ishaka Health Plan (IHP) Team To Learn From The Cervical Cancer Screening Experience.

 Following the progress registered by the Epicenter Strategy under Tell, See and Treat for cervical cancer, URDT hosted a team of 3 members from Ishaak Health Plan (IHP) on a recommendation by Female Cancer Foundation to learn about good practices and URDT’s experience since 2017. URDT has screened over 6,000 women from Kagadi District for cervical cancer. The team does mass sensitization in communities.

On 16th and 17th September 2019 the trio visited URDT campus and had an opportunity to learn about the URDT methodology and how health issues are approached. The IHP team got an experience to see the URDT team in action at Kagadi main hospital.

The IHP team is implementing a program to vaccinate students in secondary schools against HPV in Ishaak District. The team reported a low uptake in schools and community engagement is low much as efforts had been made to increase involvement.

The IHP research department conducted studies in Bushenyi and Kabale Districts in 2017 and found out that there is a high prevalence of Cervical Cancer in the districts and the vaccination of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine is still low with low adaptability by young girls.

The IHP team leader Mr. Tumuhimbise Manessar applauded URDT for being innovative and acting as a satellite and center of excellence in a rural community. He appreciated the integrated approach that URDT uses and he was impressed with the visioning process to create health and other important life goals.

“I am so much humbled to find an Institution that uplifts girl child education and supporting the communities to create happiness, health, freedom and prosperity for themselves”.

He promised to share the knowledge with his team back in Ishaak District.

During the interaction, the team was encouraged to create the communities they desire to live in and not to be reactive to events:

“Although people consider innovation to be triggered or induced by crisis or need, URDT and ARU consider innovations to be induced by a vision of what one truly wants, there is no need to be in a crisis to innovate new ideas. Regardless of any situation, age or sex, one can innovate.” said the University Secretary, ARU.

Kiiza Nobert

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