The Movement Health Foundation and local partners commit to combatting cervical and breast cancer in South Africa and Peru by leveraging local resources and technologies to improve patient experiences with sustainable and scalable solutions

The challenge​

Cervical and breast cancer are formidable challenges to women's health globally, with prominent impact in emerging countries. Late-stage diagnosis compounds the morbidity and mortality rates, emphasizing the critical importance of early detection. While primary prevention through HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccination is pivotal, secondary prevention strategies, like structured screening programs , are equally essential.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted ongoing efforts to address public health priorities: a staggering global reduction in life expectancy by 1.6 years was observed between 2019 and 2021. Among the locations more severely affected are the KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo provinces in South Africa and Mexico City as well as other LATAM countries including Peru and Bolivia. Although women in LMIC encounter similar barriers, prejudices, and gaps in cancer care, we are focusing on the

South Africa ​

• In South Africa, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women, trailing only breast cancer, yet it claims the highest toll of cancer-related deaths. The burden is particularly pronounced among women living with HIV.  ​
• Over 75% of cases in South Africa are diagnosed at advanced stages, underscoring significant gaps in screening coverage, especially in rural and peri-urban areas.​

Peru ​

• Cervical cancer is particularly prevalent in Latin America, accounting for nearly one out of four global cases. In Peru there were over 4,000 new cervical cancer cases in 2023, ranking as the second most frequent cancer among women aged 15 to 44, with mortality exceeding 2,000 cases annually.​
• Surveillance efforts were gravely affected by the pandemic, resulting in a decrease of up to 76% of cervical cancer screening tests.​

Our CGI Commitment ​

With the "Empowering women to live cancer free" commitment, Movement Health Foundation seeks to leverage the expertise of its member institutions in technological solutions, the local existing partnerships, as well as project coordination and financial support to develop and implement scalable, evidence-based interventions in South Africa and Peru. ​

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By leveraging available technology and local resources, Movement Health Foundation and partners aim to increase access to life-saving early cancer diagnosis via screening, and to facilitate efficient allocation of preventive services for women at risk of cancer. Further work in these communities will also elucidate specific gaps in treatment that can be addressed through additional partnership engagement in the future​

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In South Africa , efforts will focus on awareness-raising and screening facilitation. We will develop a user-friendly progressive web app (PWA) to provide the most up-to-date, evidence-based health information on cervical and breast cancer. The app will guide users through the cervical cancer screening process, featuring app onboarding, navigation, campaign information, and education. The app will also display nearby providers of cervical cancer screening, pre-appointment preparation and follow-up advice. ​

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In the case of Peru , our commitment builds on a successful facility-based, workflow improvement model implemented in Cusco in 2021, which digitized health worker shift scheduling, improving visibility into provider supply and patient demand. By applying this successful methodology, a solution will be co-created by mapping existing screening capacities, and then building a digital tool for local clinical managers to facilitate referrals and efficiently allocate preventive services for women at risk of cancer.​

• Are you working on expanding access to care for cancer and non-communicable diseases in LMICs?​

• Is your organization willing to support high potential, scalable digital health interventions?​

• Do you want to work together with a committed, passionate team supported by strong global partners in tech and innovation?​

Join us in this shared commitment towards healthier, more equitable health systems: to support the Movement Health Foundation’s efforts on “Health Equity for All” (as according to CGI), please contact MHF’s Americas Operations Director Camilo Erazo MD, at camiloerazo@movement-health.org​

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