Strengthening the capacity of health centers in Malawi to manage infections and non-communicable diseases
Descrizione progetto
Project description
In the rural district of Balaka, Malawi, access to effective healthcare services for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases and infections remains extremely limited, especially for women and the most vulnerable groups.
Among the main health challenges, cervical cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in the country, with a particularly high incidence in rural areas. This situation is compounded by low HPV vaccination coverage, limited availability of adequate diagnostic tools, and a general shortage of trained healthcare personnel.
The project was designed to address these challenges by strengthening the capacity of local health centers to provide prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services for HPV, cervical cancer, and other non-communicable diseases.
Through an integrated approach, the initiative combines the strengthening of healthcare facilities with community awareness activities and staff training, promoting a more accessible, effective, and sustainable healthcare system.
Objective
To improve the quality of and access to healthcare services for the prevention and treatment of infections and non-communicable diseases, particularly HPV and cervical cancer, in the Balaka district, through:
strengthening the capacity of local health centers
training healthcare personnel in diagnosis and treatment
increasing community awareness on prevention and screening
improving coordination among health stakeholders at local and national level
Main activities
The project is structured around three main areas of intervention:
1) Community awareness and prevention
implementation of awareness campaigns on risk factors and the importance of prevention
promotion of HPV vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14
health education activities on cervical cancer and chronic diseases
2) Strengthening healthcare services
training healthcare staff on the use of HPV DNA testing and on the provision of quality prevention and treatment services
introduction and expansion of cervical cancer screening and treatment services
improvement of diagnostic and care capacities in the targeted health centers
3) Coordination and institutional strengthening
participation in coordination platforms and advocacy initiatives at local and national level
promotion of shared strategies to improve healthcare services
organization of a final workshop to share results and best practices
This project is supported by the Fresenius Foundation.