The PrevATrain team from Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) conducted on the 22nd of September a cancer prevention and awareness training session, attended by 39 employees of the Moshi branch of NAFGEM, a non-profit organisation fighting against female mutilation. Four facilitators from KCMC participated in the training. The topics covered included an introduction to cancer risk factors, and common symptoms and stages of cervical cancer, breast cancer, colonic cancer, oesophageal cancer, prostate cancer and haematological malignancies. Paediatric cancers were leukemia, lymphoma, retinoblastoma, nephroblastoma and rhabdomyosarcoma were also discussed.
The participants were very active and eager to know more about cancer and misconceptions about cancer treatment. They believe that cervical screening is an unusual procedure in the way it is performed and it may be associated with pain. They were asking whether is possible to administer the HPV vaccine earlier than between 9-13 years as it is given now in country, because in our society there may be girls engaged in sexual activity before that age.
Generally, they appreciated the training and agreed that the knowledge gained will be so helpful for them astheir misunderstanding that cancer is not treatable is cleared. Also they understand about cancer prevention including self-breast examination. Furthermore, this knowledge was beneficial to them because they are working in the community including marginalized community who have never heard about cancer prevention and treatment.
