Akwatia, Ghana
March 2025
“Optimism isn’t a passive expectation that things will get better. It’s a conviction that we can make things better if we don’t look away.” Melinda Gates
This philosophy has been the cornerstone of Project HANDS since 2006.
“I have repeatedly seen women with advanced cervical cancer, which would have been completely preventable with adequate screening. For those women, help came too late. I wanted to do something about it.” Dr. Brigitte Weber
%202_bmp.png)
In March 2025, volunteer doctors Brigitte Weber, Mary Margaret O’Neill and Helen Cavasin teamed up to conduct cervical cancer screening in Akwatia, Ghana, under the auspices of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).
​
Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of female cancer deaths in Ghana. Every year, more than 3,000 Ghanaian women are diagnosed and more than 2,000 die, constituting a mortality to incidence ratio of 60%.
With early screening, detection and treatment of pre-cancer dysplasia, this deadly disease is nearly 100% preventable.
%203_bmp.png)
The outreach aimed to educate women about the importance of regular screening, and to promote
proactive health management.
“Sitting at home waiting for cancer to appear isn’t an option. Women must come for screening.”
Felicia Baala, Ghanaian Public Health Nurse
Ghanaian women carry a heavy load, but they’re always quick with a smile and a friendly greeting
919 women were screened, many for the first time. Those who tested positive for pre-cancer dysplasia received potentially life-saving thermal ablation treatment.
Project HANDS is proud to be an early adopter of CerviCARE® AI screening technology, which provides enhanced accuracy and efficiency, and serves as a valuable teaching tool.
Felicia Baala, Dr. Brigitte Weber, Dr. Maite Alfonso
WHI is a collaborative effort. We gratefully acknowledge Medical Women Association of Ghana and St. Dominic Catholic Hospital for their partnership, and for sharing our commitment to cervical cancer prevention.
Ultimate success is measured by upskilling and capacity building. Seven local nurses and midwives worked side by side with our team to master the screening and treatment protocols.
Visit www.projecthands.org to learn more
and connect further with our efforts.
