Submission ID 118567
| Issue/Objective | Cancer is a leading cause of death in Sri Lanka, particularly in the post-conflict Northern Province, where late-stage diagnosis is increasing. CancerCare Manitoba (CCMB) with the overarching vision of "a world free of cancer'' collaborated with local stakeholders in the region to analyze hospital data, identify prevalent cancers and strategically plan interventions. The objective of the collaboration is to promote screening and early detection through community engagement, ensuring equitable healthcare access in low-resource setting. |
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| Methodology/Approach | CCMB collaborated with NGOs, Medical Officers of Health, Public Health Officials, District Secretaries, and provincial health representatives to pilot a cancer control program across all districts of the Northern Province. Nursing students were trained in cancer education and theater arts, to become community cancer educators and support oncologists in delivering health camps. Health camps were held in local communities, combining cancer education with live performances using dance and drama to promote community engagement. Each camp offered oral and breast cancer screening, using oral visual examination and clinical breast examination. People with abnormal findings were referred to the Cancer Early Detection Center (CEDC) in Jaffna for further testing. |
| Results | Observations from the pilot suggest that bringing cancer education and screening services directly into communities improved participation. The incorporation of live performance made sessions more engaging and culturally familiar. This informal, community-based setting seem to reduce barrier to care and increase community engagement in education and screening activities. These observations are informing the next phase of the project. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | For sustained cancer control efforts, members of the existing community group, Mother Support Group (MSG), will undergo similar training as the educators but serve as Community Cancer Connectors (CCCs). MSGs effectively raised health awareness during the COVID-19 pandemic but not in cancer awareness. These CCCs will act as a bridge between healthcare providers and local communities. Additionally, CEDC oncologists will train staff at each of the district hospitals to improve cancer care capacity. This strategy will create a hub-and-spoke model, with CEDCs as central hubs and district hospitals providing ongoing care. CCMB is adapting lessons from collaboration by integrating culturally relevant methods and CCC training into its Newcomer Model of Care. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Abiola Dosumu Cancercare Manitoba Anthony Thanenthiran Jaffna Teaching Hospital Ganeshamoorthy Sritharan Jaffna Teaching Hospital Rajendra Surenthirakumaran University of Jaffna Kathleen Decker Cancercare Manitoba Sri Navaratnam CancerCare Manitoba Canada |
