Our Approach
Our Approach
Cervical Cancer Clinic
In partnership with the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, and in collaboration with Congolese healthcare providers trained at the Cervical Cancer Prevention Training Institute in Zambia, the Friends of Africa opened a Cervical Cancer Early Detection and Treatment Clinic at the Biamba Marie Hospital in Kinshasa, DRC, July 2016. During opening week 8,800 women requested cervical cancer screening services.
Between July 2016 - March 2018, the clinic screened over 16,000 women for cervical cancer, the largest number ever reported in the DRC. Almost 1,000 women (1 out of every 14 screened) were found to have cervical pre-cancer, all of whom were treated on the same day using modern outpatient techniques.
Gynecologic Cancer
Surgical Unit
Out of every 100 women screened for cervical cancer 1 was discovered to have invasive cancer. All such patients were referred to the newly created Gynecologic Cancer Surgical Unit at BMMH for further evaluation and treatment by Friends of Africa trained surgeons.
Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinic
In April 2017, a new Breast Cancer Early Detection Clinic was opened at BMMH. The clinic is led by Congolese general surgeons previously trained by Friends of Africa's breast oncologists from the University of Arkansas School of Medicine. Between April 2017 - April 2018 approximately 1,000 women with breast masses have been evaluated. Of these women, 50% were found to have breast cancer.
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Breast Cancer Surgical Unit
A Breast Surgery Unit was opened at Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in April 2017. Over 100 surgeries have been performed by Friends of Africa-trained Congolese general surgeons. Surgical procedures range from lumpectomy to radical mastectomy; axillary lymph node dissection to sentinel lymph node dissection with blue dye.
DRC Women's Oncology Training Institute
Using lectures, south to south training, intraoperative mentoring, investments in cancer care infrastructure and teleconferencing, we have successfully built a workforce of cancer care specialists and clinical service platforms for the early detection and treatment of women’s cancers at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital in the DRC.