In an effort to improve the health of women and girls in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Central America, Grand Challenges Canada and its partners announced 18 projects on Monday, reflecting Canada's new International Women's Aid Policy.

For Haiti the Project concerns cervical cancer screening among factory employees.

Haiti lacks sufficient means to screen women of reproductive age for cervical cancer, the leading cause of female cancer-related death. It has also been shown that Haiti’s working-class, such as factory workers, have the least exposure to health programs and education.

As part of this project, women factory workers will self-swab to test for Human papillomavirus (HPV) with treatment if needed performed the next week by staff nurses in the factory infirmary.

The model fosters sustainability as the private sector supports disease screening for employees and training of nurses, and is expected to create broader demand for screening services. Other expected benefits include the ability to provide adequate patient education in a community-based setting, no loss to follow up, and increased service uptake.

IH/ S/ iciHaiti