Who We Are
The Alliance consists of five partner organizations, brought together by their capabilities and experience in global cervical cancer prevention.
- EngenderHealth
- IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer)
- JHPIEGO
- PAHO (Pan American Health Organization)
- PATH, Alliance coordinating agency
EngenderHealth
EngenderHealth is one of the largest nonprofit organizations dedicated to making reproductive health care accessible to women and men around the world. Headquartered in New York City, EngenderHealth works globally to improve the lives of individuals by making reproductive health services safe, available, and sustainable. Within the Alliance, EngenderHealth plays a key role both in studying the safety and efficacy of screening and treatment technologies and in developing appropriate, sustainable service delivery approaches.
Improving cervical cancer screening and treatment
EngenderHealth is collaborating with Columbia University and the University of Cape Town on a multi-phase clinical trial to investigate the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of two alternative approaches to cervical cancer prevention—visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) of the cervix and HPV DNA testing followed, when indicated, by immediate cryotherapy treatment performed by midlevel providers (nurses). This work has led to other research exploring: (1) the cost effectiveness of different prevention approaches; (2) client perspectives on screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical abnormalities; and (3) the effectiveness of multi-media approaches on community awareness of cervical cancer and its prevention.
Program design, implementation, and evaluation
Together with local partners in South Africa and Bolivia, EngenderHealth is working to assess cervical cancer prevention services and develop, test, and evaluate methods to improve them. Efforts include setting up all systems needed for screening, establishing mechanisms to reach the target community, and developing effective quality-assurance procedures and guidelines. In addition, EngenderHealth has developed a quality improvement tool for cervical cancer prevention services that enables facility-based staff to identify problems and simple solutions in order to strengthen the quality of care that they provide.
Male involvement in cervical cancer prevention
Men’s attitudes and behaviors can be important factors that inhibit or encourage women to access cervical cancer prevention services. EngenderHealth has been exploring ways to involve men as supportive figures during the prevention process.
For more information on EngenderHealth and its work, see the EngenderHealth website (www.engenderhealth.org) or contact Dr. Mark Barone, D.V.M., M.S., at mbarone@engenderhealth.org.
International Agency for Research on Cancer
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is an affiliated research center of the World Health Organization. IARC's mission is to coordinate and conduct research on the causes of human cancer and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis, and to develop scientific strategies for cancer control.
Cervical cancer epidemiology and prevention
IARC has been active in a number of studies assessing the role of HPV in cervical cancer. In the 1990s, IARC coordinated several key studies of cervical cancer prevention approaches, including visual inspection, in developing countries such as India and Costa Rica. Within the ACCP, IARC provides a valuable resource for cervical cancer epidemiological data, and is playing a key role in clarifying the safety and effectiveness of visual inspection for screening/treatment decisions in India (where a quarter of all cervical cancer deaths occur).
For more information on IARC's work in cervical cancer prevention, see the IARC website (http://screening.iarc.fr) or contact R. Sankaranarayanan, M.D., at sankar@iarc.fr.
JHPIEGO
JHPIEGO is a nonprofit corporation working to improve the health of women and families throughout the world. Through advocacy, education, and performance improvement, JHPIEGO helps host-country health policymakers, educators, and service providers increase access and reduce barriers to quality reproductive health services.
Alternative approaches to cervical cancer screening
Since 1989, JHPIEGO has been exploring the feasibility of several low-cost alternatives for cervical cancer prevention, with particular emphasis on visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) and cryrotherapy. JHPIEGO is committed to carrying out SAFE (safety, acceptability, feasibility, and program effort) demonstration projects involving the single-visit approach that can be applied to the poorest, most under-served regions in the developing world.
Within the ACCP, JHPIEGO's projects play a key role in clarifying issues important to ensuring the safety and effectiveness of the single visit approach. Currently, it is implementing two large SAFE demonstration projects in Thailand and Ghana. Given its extensive experience in developing and implementing appropriate reproductive health training programs worldwide, JHPIEGO also plays an important role in developing and standardizing training approaches for cervical cancer prevention services.
For more information on JHPIEGO's work in cervical cancer prevention, see JHPIEGO's website (www.jhpiego.org) or contact Ricky Lu, M.D., M.P.H. at rlu@jhpiego.net.
Pan American Health Organization
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with more than 90 years of experience in working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. It serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization, and enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system.
Since 1995 PAHO has identified cervical cancer as one of its priority areas of disease prevention and control in the Americas. PAHO's emphasis has been on improving the quality of cytology services in several countries, encouraging the participation of women in cervical cancer screening programs, and developing and implementing guidelines for cervical cancer management.
Within the ACCP, PAHO's extensive network of government and other contacts in the region helps ensure that Alliance projects proceed in concert with local needs and expectations. PAHO also plays a key role in advocating for effective cervical cancer prevention approaches throughout the region. They have sponsored regional meetings on cervical cancer and are working in Peru, El Salvador, and other Latin American countries to evaluate the safety and cost-effectiveness of cervical cancer screening and treatment approaches.
For more information on PAHO's work, see the PAHO website (www.paho.org) or contact Sylvia Robles, M.D., MSc, at roblessy@paho.org. The World Health Organization website address is www.who.int.
PATH (Program for Appropriate Technology in Health)
PATH is an international, nonprofit, nongovernmental organization dedicated to improving health, especially the health of women and children. As coordinating agency of the Alliance for Cervical Cancer Prevention, PATH works closely with a steering committee of ACCP members to encourage intra-Alliance communication and collaboration and to coordinate information dissemination.
Assessing innovative approaches to cervical screening and treatment
PATH is widely recognized for its experience in development, assessment, and introduction of new technologies. As an Alliance member, PATH is investigating alternative screening methods that may serve as an adjunct to or replacement for Pap smears in areas where resources are limited. Methods under investigation include the AviScope ™ screening device for visual inspection of the cervix using low-powered magnification.
Improving service delivery systems
In an effort to evaluate various service delivery approaches, PATH is developing assessment tools that will help health program managers to decide whether and how to integrate cervical cancer prevention into existing women's health services.
Incorporating community perspectives and needs into program design
Working with local partners in Kenya and Peru, PATH is researching what women and health care providers know, believe, and do as the starting point for designing more effective cervical cancer programs. Using surveys, focus group discussions, interviews, and other techniques, PATH is working with its local counterparts to ensure that programs reflect community perspectives and needs.
Heightening awareness of cervical cancer and effective prevention strategies
In order to advocate for adequate funding, favorable policies, and popular support for new programs and approaches, PATH contributes to global and regional conferences on cervical cancer and produces publications and resources on issues affecting cervical cancer in developing countries.
For more information on PATH's work in cervical cancer, see PATH's website (www.path.org) or contact Jacqueline Sherris, Ph.D., at sherris@path.org.
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