On October 24-26, 2017 the international training seminar on the management of Cervical Cancer Screening Programme and its clinical aspects was organized with the support of UNFPA Country Office in Georgia.

The seminar was conducted by the experts from the Irish National Cervical Cancer Screening Programme and the European Cervical Cancer Association (ECCA). The seminar is part of the broader cooperation framework between the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Georgia Office and the Tbilisi Municipality, which aims to support in enhancing the coverage of the screening programme and improving its quality. The training was attended by the service providers and administrators from the medical facilities in Tbilisi engaged in the implementation of the Cervical Cancer Screening Subprogram of the Tbilisi Municipality. 

Based on the Georgia’s 2016 epidemiological data, the number of new cases of cervical cancer has decreased compared to previous years. However, the early detection of precancerous conditions and cervical cancer still remains a serious challenge due to the low coverage (on average no more than 10% nation-wide) of the target population with cervical cancer screening services. This fact clearly indicates the necessity of introducing the organized screening model in the country to increase the efficiency of the cancer screening programme.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) provides strategic and technical support to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) in the implementation of “National Cancer Screening Program” and Tbilisi Municipality in the implementation of “National Screening Subprogram” and introduction of the cervical cancer organized screening elements in Tbilisi and in the pilot site - Gurjaani Municipality.

“We trust that this seminar will contribute to the implementation of the organized cervical cancer screening model and will contribute to enhancing the quality and effective management of this Programme. It is possible for the existing pilot model to be replicated later for the implementation of the organized screening for other cancer locations” -  mentioned Lela Bakradze, Assistant Representative, UNFPA/Georgia.