Mission
Our mission is to advance cancer prevention, early detection, and the improvement of the quality of life for patients and families affected by severe illness.
Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja
Elimination, Early Prevention and Treatment of Cervical Cancer
In the developed world, cervical cancer is diminishing due to widespread screening and early treatment of precancerous lesions, along with the potential eradication of the virus through the HPV vaccine. In contrast, Uganda has three times the global average of cervical cancer, accounting for 20% of all new cancers, 35% of female cancers, and 22% of all cancer deaths, with the highest incidence and mortality rates of any cancer in the country.
The majority of the women who come to us with cervical cancer are very advanced in their disease and are suffering. They have fistulas, incontinence, heavy bleeding, and pus discharge, among other painful symptoms. Too poor to afford diapers, these womens are isolated in dark rooms, ashamed of the foul discharge and stain on their skirts, dresses, and bedding.
RHHJ is able to help the women we have contact with, but there are many more out there, and many more women will be doomed to the same fate unless they are diagnosed and treated early for this awful disease. 39% of women with cancer at RHHJ have cervical cancer, a preventable diseases. We see the importance of elimination, early prevention and treatment of cervical cancer and do it through HPV vaccination, screening for cervical cancer, and both curative and palliative treatment.
HPV Vaccination
Primary Prevention
HPV vaccinations can significantly reduce the risk of developing cervical cancer, a disease that affects millions of women worldwide. In Uganda, the vaccine is available, but healthcare workers often lack adequate education on its benefits. Consequently, vaccines frequently expire and are discarded unused, missing crucial opportunities to protect young girls. To address this issue, we launched an initiative in 2023 aimed at enhancing the implementation of HPV vaccinations.
Our initiative focuses on the Busoga region, where we have partnered with clinics to educate healthcare workers on the importance and usage of the HPV vaccine. We are also conducting information and advocacy campaigns in schools, health centers, and communities to raise awareness about the vaccine's benefits. In Uganda, girls aged 9-14 are eligible for vaccination, and it is a race against time to vaccinate as many girls as possible to lower their future risk of cervical cancer. With a monthly target of vaccinating 2,000 girls, we work closely with local clinics to engage schools and families, ensuring we reach our goal and hopefully eradicate this disease in the future.
Cervical Screening
Secondary Prevention
Screening is a crucial method for preventing cervical cancer from developing. Early detection and treatment of precancerous cells can stop the progression to full-blown cancer. In regions with limited access to healthcare, such as the Busoga Region, screening programs are essential for saving lives.
Knowing the extent of the problem and the almost non-existent access to screening and early treatment for cervical cancer in the Busoga Region, RHHJ started a free screening program in 2018, targeting the rural population and using the WHO-recommended VIA test (Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid).
Since 2018, RHHJ has screened over 9000 women. Six percent, or 1 out of every 16 women, tested positive.
If women test positive for precancerous cells, they are treated on-site with cryotherapy or thermotherapy, or referred for biopsies if the cells appear to be cancerous. We have prevented more than 540 women from developing cervical cancer.
We also screen for breast cancer, teach women how to self-examine and treat other infections that they may have on-site. In this way, we hope to prevent many cases of advanced cancer and promote overall women’s health in the Busoga Region.
Treatment and Palliative Care
Tertiary Prevention
We follow up with our screened women who have suspicious lesions or cancerous cells to ensure they receive the necessary treatment, providing support when needed. We assist them in obtaining biopsies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and more, accompanying them throughout the entire process to ensure they receive the support they need. For women in the advanced stages of the disease who have not responded to treatment, we provide palliative care. We counsel the family during this difficult time and ensure the patient is comfortable, making sure they can die with dignity.
The Harsh Reality
Both of these women had advanced cervical cancer, and at just 53 and 27 years old, both of them died from this completely preventable disease, leaving behind their children and families. The disease stripped them of their dignity, caused them immeasurable pain and suffering and it could have been prevented.
