On January 24, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) donated 4 accessible gynecological chairs and a hysteroscope to the National Screening Center of Georgia. 

With its mechanism, the accessible gynecological chairs, donated to the National Screening Center, enables women with locomotor disabilities, older women, and those overweight, equally use the screening programme and prevent cervical cancer timely.  

UNFPA and TIKA unite forces to support persons with disabilities

From 131 803 people with disabilities registered in Georgia, 49 803 are women and girls. The joint initiative of the UNFPA and TIKA aims to improve their accessibility to cervical cancer screening, and overall - to sexual and reproductive health services in Georgia. 

Women and youth with disabilities lack access to basic services and information, including on sexual and reproductive health, which has been caused by nonexistence of an accessible environment, including gynecologic chairs, as well as the lack of knowledge and practice of the medical personnel. 

“The cooperation spearheaded by the UNFPA and the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency marks an important endeavor to ensure that no one is left behind the development and everybody has equal access to quality services. This is the possibility to implement crucial initiatives to support the health and well-being of women and girls in Georgia” -  Head of UNFPA Georgia Country Office, Mariam Bandzeladze.

“By supporting women’s health, particularly for those with disabilities, we aim to contribute to a brighter and healthier future. It is an honor to collaborate with UNFPA on this vital initiative and to stand together in advancing the health and rights of women in Georgia" - TİKA Tbilisi Coordinator, Zeynep Bayrak.

"The National Screening Center cares about ensuring quality healthcare services for citizens, including by providing an accessible environment for people with disabilities so that they could use all the services available. Our branches are equipped with the pandouses and now within the joint effort of the UNFPA and TIKA, medical equipment, which makes our services more inclusive and accessible” - Director of the National Screening Center, Eter Kiguradze. 

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death among women in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. To increase early diagnosis of cancer in Georgia and reduce mortality, the UNFPA Georgia has been providing technical assistance to the National Screening Center in the implementation of cervical cancer screening programs since 2009. To reduce the cancer death rate, at least 70% of the population should be screened.