‘Cervix selfies’ introduced in Kisumu, Siaya for early detection of cervical cancer

The EVA system looks like a handheld scanner and comprises a mobile colposcope with a smartphone mounted on it. It also has an online image portal for storing and annotating images.

The device uses an app that stores patients’ details on the mobile phone. During screening, the device captures and uploads images of the cervix to the image portal.

A patient is able to view the image of her cervix as the nurse explains the results. If abnormalities in cervical cells are detected, the health provider is at discretion to either treat or refer to a specialist. Information on diagnoses and treatments including other clinical decisions about a patient are stored in the device, hence making it double as a health record. This can also be shared in real-time with specialists or referral facilities.

The device is also connected to a central website where images are analyzed and explanations are given on how to improve diagnosis and treatment. Patients’ information is however encrypted and only available to health providers with access to the server.

Cervical cancer, unlike other forms of cancer, can be prevented if the abnormal cells around the cervix clinically referred to as ‘precancerous lesions’ are identified and treated early enough.

Matibabu Foundation Kenya encourages women, particularly those who are sexually active; to go for screening, especially with the introduction of the new device so that those with the disease but do not yet have symptoms can be identified and treated in time.

“Screening is exciting with this new device because women are able to view their cervix and see what happens in their own bodies,” says Aaga Mitoko, the Project Coordinator at Matibabu Foundation.

With other screening methods, women are shown wall pictures that differentiate a normal from an abnormal cervix. This is, however, too general and as a departure from it, clients will have the opportunity to view their own cervix from the images captured, more like taking a selfie hence the term “cervix selfie” for the EVA device.

Cervical cancer is generally on the rise and is among the leading causes of maternal deaths not only in Kenya but also globally. For a long time, there have been myths surrounding cervical screening, a factor that has contributed to poor turnout for such procedures.

Lucy Wanyama, the Nursing Officer in charge of Siaya County Referral Hospital identifies the mismatch between those who come for treatment when the disease is at advanced stages and those who come for screening.

She says, “People being screened are few. So we realize there’s a miss. There’s a gap we’re experiencing because if we’re not screening all eligible clients we need then we have clients who come with the diseases at an advanced stage, something that puts us at a loss.”

The EVA system is developed by an Israeli technology company, MobileODT.