08-11- 2012

On November 7, at USAID HS-STAR project premises, the preliminary results of the study on Reproductive cancer screening/early detection performance were presented. APR Group (“Free public” Law-Protective Youth NGO) has conducted the research with professional support from expert physicians from the Republican oncological center through the financial support of the HS-STAR project. The aim of the study was to explore the knowledge, attitude and current practices of primary health care providers and health care managers in reproductive cancer screening/early detection activities as well as to reveal the obstacles for their implementation and possibilities for improvement.

Ministry of Health officials, senior management of the National Oncological Center, representatives of international organizations, Ob/Gyns and managers of different health care facilities were present.

HS-STAR project MCH/RH advisor Gohar Panajyan presented the main results of reproductive cancer study. It was noted that the study has revealed serious system-level issues in these areas, including low population attendance for preventative checkup purposes as well as low level of population awareness, inconsistent application of updated knowledge and care approaches in providers’ routine practices under-financing of preventative/screening activities, low remuneration of providers, insufficiency of specialists and material-technical base. After the presentation, the participants engaged in interesting debates on the discussed issues and future steps. They presented their comments and remarks concerning the methodology and results of the research, stating that closer collaboration with the relevant structures of the ministry is highly desirable in conducting similar researches in the future. The parties who have implemented the research thankfully accepted the proposed remarks for considering during the finalization of the study’s final report.

hs-star.net