Written by Naomi Oboyi
MHRP in Nigeria, known locally as the Walter Reed Program-Nigeria (WRP-N), in partnership with the Nigeria Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (NMODHIP), conducted a 3-day cervical cancer screening training for 28 healthcare professionals in April. The training was funded by the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Participants at the training were a mix of military and civilian nurses and doctors selected from some of the comprehensive military and Accelerating Progress in Pediatrics and PMTCT (AP3) sites supported by the Walter Reed Program-Nigeria (WRP-N).
The Director General of NMODHIP, Brig. Gen. NAE Okeji (rtd) and the Country Director, U.S Army Medical Research Directorate-Africa/Nigeria (USAMRD-A/N), Ms. Helina Meri opened the training. During her remarks, Ms. Meri expressed her gratitude to the participants for their commitment to delivering quality healthcare services.
The training covered various aspects of cervical cancer screening, with a special focus on the practical demonstration of the use of a thermal coagulator device, a treatment approach used for precancerous lesions. The capacity-building activity also featured clinical observation and practice at the DHQ Medical Centre Abuja, where participants witnessed live demonstrations of what they learned. The training also featured the supply and distribution of 26 thermal coagulator devices to the various sites represented.
The training was facilitated by Dr. Ahmed Yusuf, Muhammad Buhari Abu-Saeed from the Walter Reed Program-Nigeria, and two seasoned facilitators: Surg Capt UO Nzeribe-Abangwu and Wg Cdr KJ Ogah.