The Net: strengthening governance for women's cancer prevention and women's health in Malawi
Malawi
Status
ImplementationAid type
Project-type interventionsMalawi
Location
-
€ 1,830,239
Committed
Committed
€ 1,281,167
Used
Used
Description
In Malawi, breast and cervical cancer represent a serious public health issue for women of reproductive age. The country has the highest mortality rate in the world for cervical cancer and predicts a significant increase in breast cancer incidence with advancing screening techniques. The high incidence of HIV/AIDS among women further puts women of reproductive age at risk, making them more vulnerable to cervical cancer. Local entities involved in female oncological prevention in the Blantyre district face a fragmented healthcare system, with difficulties in planning and implementing a specific cancer prevention program for women. This is due to a lack of trained healthcare personnel and management, outdated screening techniques, and limited planning, implementation, and involvement of the local healthcare network. Gender, social, cultural, logistical, and economic determinants limit the demand for cancer prevention healthcare services in women, who encounter various access barriers due to lack of awareness and knowledge of risk factors. This constitutes a problem for women's reproductive health to the extent that it is included as a top priority emergency at the country level and in the essential package of services for women in the national reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health (RMNCH) program. Aligning with international strategies of Agenda 2030 and WHO, and Malawi's national guidelines, the initiative aims to improve control and prevention of cervical and breast cancer. The overall objective is to contribute to achieving SDG 3: "Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages" in Malawi, specifically targeting goals 3.4 and 3.8. The specific objective is to increase the coverage of quality female oncological prevention services for breast and cervical neoplasms in the Blantyre district. This objective will be achieved through two expected results: one of healthcare governance and one of organization of basic healthcare services. The training of community healthcare workers, socio-health personnel, and laboratory staff, along with the definition of an inclusive communication strategy, a district operational plan for female oncological prevention, and the organization of national thematic workshops, will improve participatory health governance for female cancer prevention in the Blantyre district (Expected Result 1 - OECD DAC 12110). Supporting the planning and implementation of an integrated female oncological prevention service including awareness, HPV vaccination, screening, and initiation of cytology and telepathology service, will optimize the comprehensive territorial female cancer prevention plan in the Blantyre district (Expected Result 2 - OECD DAC 12350). Synergistically, the two results will strengthen multilevel governance capacities, with a direct impact on healthcare stakeholders and national guidelines. The 36-month initiative involves a partnership composed of the Blantyre Health Department, which will ensure that project products and results can inform national health authorities and impact national management and policies for the improvement of female oncological prevention systems. With the support of the Umbrian territorial healthcare and administrative network, the participation of local Malawian CSOs and public entities, and the involvement of the private partner TeamDev, the aim is to strengthen the capacities and infrastructure of local entities and Malawian CSOs with a multi-stakeholder approach and Public-Private Partnership, for a reduction in mortality and incidence of breast and cervical neoplasms.
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| Year | Committed | Used |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | € 1,830,239 | € 1,281,167 |
Agency
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | AICS - Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development | 11000 |
Channel reported
| Type | Name | Channel code |
|---|---|---|
| Government | COMUNE DI PERUGIA EPE | 11002 |
Project data
Sectors
Policy markers
SDGs
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