The National Institute of Health has awarded Aga Khan University (AKU) Kes 19.6 million to advance cervical cancer testing in the country.

In a statement, the learning institution stated that the funds will enable the institution to perform low-cost handheld 3D medical imaging devices for detecting cervical cancer.

According to the Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at AKU, Elkanah Omenge, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women after breast cancer and is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among Kenyan women.

Omenge said the funding will be fundamental in the country's early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer patients.

“I am excited about this grant, which will enable AKU to make significant strides in addressing the burden of cervical cancer in the country. Our goal is to play a role in early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer patients which will help combat this preventable disease,” he stated.

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Women in less developed regions are the most vulnerable to the disease due to limited access to preventative measures such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs and screening strategies.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 660,000 new cases of the disease were recorded in 2022, causing 350,000 deaths, the majority of which occurred in low- and middle-income countries, especially in the sub-Saharan African Region.