In a significant health initiative, a medical caravan visited Tafiré, Côte d'Ivoire, from October 30 to 31, 2026, to screen women for breast and cervical cancer. The caravan, led by Dr. Alimatou Koné and Prof. Moctar Touré, under the patronage of Mme Maïmouna Koné, wife of the Vice President of the Republic, provided essential health services to 920 women in just two days. This effort aimed to address the challenges faced by women in rural areas who previously had to travel long distances to access such medical services.
The health caravan brought together a team of 27 healthcare professionals, including oncologists, gynecologists, midwives, and technicians, who worked alongside local health teams. The team utilized three mobile consultation units and one mobile mammography and breast ultrasound unit to complement the existing infrastructure at the Tafiré Urban Health Center. This comprehensive approach enabled the team to provide a range of services, including clinical breast exams, cervical cancer screening, and mammograms.
During the two-day event, 795 women received clinical breast exams, 542 were screened for cervical cancer through visual inspection with acetic acid, and 99 underwent HPV screening using GeneXpert technology. Additionally, the team performed 40 mammograms and 11 breast ultrasounds. The results highlighted the urgent need for early detection and intervention, as 23 clinical anomalies were identified during the exams, and 20 women required further testing after receiving HPV test results.
The initiative was made possible through the support of various stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, Public Hygiene, and Universal Health Coverage, the National Cancer Control Program, and the Hambol Regional Council. Dr. Emmanuel Touré, a medical biologist, provided state-of-the-art equipment for human papillomavirus screening, while Prof. Moctar Touré and his team ensured specialized consultations were available.
Dr. Alimatou Koné emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating that each woman screened represents a life that can be protected, a family that can be preserved, and a future that can be changed. The goal is to sustain this effort and make prevention a reflex in the Hambol region, ensuring that every woman, regardless of her location, has equal opportunities to protect her health.
The health caravan's impact extends beyond the immediate medical services provided. It also highlights the importance of addressing health disparities in rural areas and the need for continued investment in healthcare infrastructure and services. By bringing medical services closer to the communities, the initiative aims to reduce health inequalities and improve health outcomes for women in the region.
The success of this initiative underscores the value of collaboration and community engagement in addressing public health challenges. As the team looks to the future, the focus will be on building on this momentum and ensuring that the progress made is sustained over time. This will require continued support from stakeholders and a commitment to prioritizing women's health in the region.
Key points
- 920 women were screened for breast and cervical cancer in a two-day health caravan in Tafiré, Côte d'Ivoire.
