The self-sampling initiative is led by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) and enables women to obtain cervical cancer screening kits from public health facilities or selected private clinics.
Using the kits, women can collect a vaginal sample at home and return it to health facilities for laboratory analysis. The service is provided free of charge under the RBC Cancer Programme, according to Dr. Theoneste Maniragaba, Director of the Cancer Programme at RBC.
The samples are tested for high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the primary cause of cervical cancer. Once laboratory results are available, healthcare providers share them with the women. Those who test positive are referred for further assessment, including procedures such as a pap smear or a medical examination, Maniragaba explained.
Several private clinics are participating in the programme, including Legacy, DMC Carrefour, Good Life, Bien Naitre, Bwiza Medical, MBC Hospital, Polyclinic Medico-Social, and Saint Jean Polyclinique, located in Nyarugenge District.
The programme targets all women aged 30 and above, regardless of whether they feel healthy, as cervical cancer often develops without noticeable symptoms in its early stages. Women experiencing unusual bleeding, persistent vaginal discharge, or those who notice a painless lump in the breast are also encouraged to undergo screening.
Launched six months ago, the initiative initially struggled with low awareness and limited participation. However, Maniragaba said engagement has improved in recent weeks following increased involvement by local leaders in community mobilisation efforts.
He noted that self-sampling addresses common barriers to screening, such as discomfort, embarrassment, and difficulties accessing health facilities, while offering accuracy comparable to samples collected by clinicians.
'Early detection is critical in preventing cervical cancer. This programme provides convenient access to screening and empowers women to take control of their health,' Maniragaba told New Times.
Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Rwanda. Data from the National Cancer Registry (2022) indicate that the country records between 600 and 800 new cases each year, with nearly 600 deaths annually.
Rwanda has set an ambitious goal to eliminate cervical cancer by 2027, three years ahead of the World Health Organization's global '90-70-90' targets. These benchmarks aim for 90 percent of girls to be fully vaccinated against HPV by the age of 15, 70 percent of women to be screened by ages 35 and 45, and 90 percent of women diagnosed with cervical disease to receive appropriate treatment.
As part of this strategy, the government continues to roll out community mobilisation and HPV vaccination campaigns to strengthen prevention, early detection, and treatment services. RBC is spearheading mass screening efforts and has deployed Women Cancer Early Detection (WCED) mentors at health facilities to support and guide healthcare workers involved in the programme.
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