Strengthening Cervical and Lung Cancer Care in Zambia

Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable, yet in Zambia it accounts for 41% of new cancer cases among women. When detected early, cervical cancer is also highly curable. But more Zambians die from cervical cancer than any other type. Early detection and prompt treatment of lung cancer is also challenging, with treatment available only in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital. As with cervical cancer, late diagnoses often lead to poor patient outcomes.

CMMB is working to improve lung and cervical cancer care in Zambia. We are spreading awareness and strengthening local systems to prevent, diagnose, and treat more cancer cases.

The Growing Burden of Lung Cancer

Willard sees Medical Officer Bridget for a lung cancer screening at the Makululu Health Center.

Lung cancer is the most common type of cancer worldwide, and also the cancer responsible for most deaths. For too long, lung cancer received little attention in Zambia. But a change is happening. Access to Health Zambia (A2HealthZ), a member of the CMMB global community, is implementing the Multinational Lung Cancer Control Program (MLCCP) with support from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation. In Lusaka, Ndola, and Kabwe, we work closely with the Ministry of Health and Zambart, another Zambian NGO, to improve early detection and access to care.

Zambia’s population has strong risk factors for lung cancer, including exposure to indoor air pollution from cooking and emissions from mining activities. But it is difficult to determine the overall lung cancer burden, since data collection is decentralized and mostly done on paper. We are strengthening Zambia’s surveillance and registry systems to get a better understanding of lung cancer’s prevalence. Gathering this data will help us and the Ministry of Health advance cancer prevention and care. And because Zambia’s high smoking rates are a significant risk factor for lung cancer cases, we are launching the country’s first smoking cessation pilot to help more Zambians invest in their future health.

Together with our partners and government, we are developing national screening and treatment guidelines. We train primary care professionals and community health workers, equipping them with the knowledge they need to detect early symptoms of lung cancer and make referrals for prompt treatment. We also build awareness in the community. Through community drama performances, door-to-door outreach, and health talks, our team has delivered lifesaving knowledge to more than 25,000 people. Now, more families know how to recognize symptoms and understand the pathways to care.

Lifesaving Prevention and Screening for Cervical Cancer

A community health outreach officer conducts an engagement event to raise awareness about cervical cancer and cancer services at the Kanyama Mothers Shelter.

For over a decade, Zambia has promoted HPV vaccination, which prevents most cases of cervical cancer, and regular screening, which can detect cancer and unusual cells before they develop into cancer. Yet women remain vulnerable. Zambia sees more cervical cancer cases than nearly any other country.

With funding from Becton Dickinson (BD), A2HealthZ has teamed with the Ministry of Health to implement a one-year cervical cancer screening project. The project is focused on Kanyama, the densely populated area of Lusaka that is the site of CMMB’s first urban Children and Mother’s Partnerships (CHAMPS) program.

A2HealthZ partners with Kanyama Level 1 Hospital’s cervical cancer units and Neighborhood Health Committees to deliver screening services and raise awareness about cervical cancer. We provide HPV vaccination services at approachable community spots, like churches and schools. As with our lung cancer project, we connect to the community using door-to-door outreach and theater performances, sharing the importance of regular screening and HPV vaccination and helping families understand where to access services.

Charity’s Story: Leading by Example

After her own early cervical cancer detection and treatment, Charity now shares her story to encourage other women to get screened.

Our work is making a difference for people like Charity, a community health worker who decided to get screened for cervical cancer to inspire other women—and saved her own life.

Charity lives in Kanyama, where crowded living situations, inadequate infrastructure, and frequent flooding leave residents vulnerable to waterborne illnesses and other health issues. She serves her neighbors as a community health worker, helping families improve their health and well-being. She never imagined the work would save her own life.

A mother of six, Charity likes to lead by example. After she attended a workshop about the importance of cervical cancer screening, she decided to galvanize other women into action by signing up for a screening herself. To Charity’s surprise, her results showed pre-cancerous cells. She was concerned, but also grateful. Early detection had saved her life.

Charity received medication and follow-up care through CMMB. Today, she is healthy.

As she works in her community, the memory of her experience adds meaning to her message: get screened, get informed, and protect your health.

Through her strength and resilience, Charity has reached more than 500 women in her community.

At CMMB, we are grateful for Charity’s steadfast advocacy. Her resolve is saving lives. We share her determination to create a healthier, cancer-free future for more families in Zambia.