A consensus building workshop was conducted on cervical cancer prevention and control guideline at Median Hotel in Asmara in May 2018 in the presence of participants from MOH, Asmara College of Health Science, WHO including other UN Agencies. The main objective of the workshop was to develop consensus among the technical working group on the detailed content of the comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control guideline in Eritrea; design the guideline; come up with a final draft document, provide responsibilities to the technical working group and draft an implementation plan.

At a start, power point presentations on the following was conducted:  situation analysis of cervical cancer in Eritrea: In-depth review of the cervical cancer situation analysis report, with program implications for comprehensive cervical cancer prevention and control on why invest in cervical cancer, anatomy and physiology of the cervix, visual inspection with acetic acid, concept of cry-therapy and concept of see and treat/single visit approach. This was followed by plenary discussions of the various sections with inputs from the participants.

In this meeting, it was explained that cancers of the cervix, breast and prostate are the most common reproductive organ cancers in Eritrea. The prevalence and incidence of these diseases can be reduced through primary prevention, early detection and early treatment.   

The participants discussed around community mobilization plan; to reach as many people as possible, the general community must be targeted and educated on the importance of preservation early diagnosis and treatment. They highlighted that health care providers should pass on clear and consistent messages in a language that is understood by audience.

MOH recommends that information and education strategies should be directed towards persons who have never been screened before, and towards their partners and family members who can encourage them to solicit screening and comply with follow-up instruction.

Different groups were formed to review and develop the document section by section and subsequently made presentations on the inputs and comments the different groups had. At last the way forward and implementation plan was drafted to be finalized after consensus was made by the higher officials of MOH.

The 2013 World Health Assembly identified cervical cancer interventions among the priority in the action plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020, which was agreed by Member States, committing them to including cervical cancer and other NCD interventions in national health plans.