Deploying Thermal Ablation Devices to Expand Access to Treatment for Cervical Precancer

TogetHER for Health organized a webinar on Thursday, July 21, 2022, to highlight efforts to expand access to thermal ablation as a means to remove cervical precancer.

TogetHER was joined by members from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), SUCCESS, and Unitaid teams to discuss their experience rolling out thermal ablation devices to increase access to treatment for cervical precancer, as well as the renewed access pricing agreements that allow a broad range of countries and partners to procure the thermal ablation devices at pre-negotiated prices.

Participants included:
  • Smiljka de Lussigny, Programme Manager, Unitaid
  • Karen Milch Hariharan, Senior Director, Global Cervical Cancer and Nutrition, Clinton Health Access Initiative
  • Divya Sarwal, Program Manager, Cervical Cancer Program, Clinton Health Access Initiative
  • Frehiwot Birhanu, Senior Program Manager, SRMNHClinton Health Access Initiative
  • Her Excellency, Dr. Zainab-Shinkafi-Bagudu, Chief Executive Officer, Medicaid Cancer Foundation
  • Tracey Shissler, Director of SUCCESS Implementation, Jhpiego
  • Dr. Veronica Reis, Senior Technical Advisor for Women's Cancers, Jhpiego
  • Dr. Kiyali Ouattara, Country Director, Côte d'Ivoire, Jhpiego

Read the CHAI white paper documenting the project’s experience with rolling out thermal ablation, and underscoring thermal ablation's potential to substantially expand access to treatment in low- and middle-income countries, where almost 90 percent of cervical cancer deaths occur.

The full webinar recording can be viewed below. The transcript of the Q&A in the webinar chat can be accessed at this link. Presenter slides are accessible on this site below the video. Further questions and comments can be sent to us at [email protected].

Presentations from this webinar:

Presenters: Tracey Shissler, Veronica Reis, and Kiyali Ouattara, Jhpiego
Title: Quality Assurance in Thermal Ablation Introduction: Approaches and Treatment Transition

Presenter: Her Excellency, Dr. Zainab-Shinkafi-Bagudu, Medicaid Cancer Foundation
Title: Deploying Thermal Ablation: Lessons from Cervical Cancer Screening and Pre-Cancer Treatment in Kebbi State

Presenter: Karen Milch Hariharan, Divya Sarwal, and Frehiwot Birhanu, Clinton Health Access Initiative
Title: Expanding access to thermal ablation to prevent cervical cancer: Experience from a multi-country Unitaid-funded project