By Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe continues to lose over 1,000 women to cervical cancer annually, with data showing that an estimated 3,043 women are diagnosed with the disease each year. Despite this grim reality, access to screening services for women in Zimbabwe remains a challenge due to a myriad of factors, including lack of knowledge and awareness, inaccessible health services, the pain and discomfort of pelvic examinations, and societal stigma and discrimination.
To boost cervical cancer screening, the government has introduced various interventions, including the use of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA tests, which are more accurate and sensitive than traditional methods. Additionally, approximately 200 clinics across the country have received self-sampling testing kits for health workers to use in their areas of influence.
While Zimbabwe has made strides in improving cervical cancer screening, access remains unevenly distributed, with rural women continuing to lag behind. Screening data from 2019 shows that only 20% of women had undergone cervical cancer screening.
To complement government efforts and bridge the screening gap, Lindelwe Ncube (32), a Zimbabwean medical doctor and biomedical engineer, has launched ColpoPen, an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool set to revolutionize the healthcare sector in the country.
Part of Education 5.0 is the requirement to start a company. This AI tool was initially a project and dissertation I worked on during my Master’s in Biomedical Engineering. The university encouraged me to develop a company to commercialize the AI tool,” said Dr. Ncube in an interview with HealthTimes.
The AI tool is set to be piloted this year before being deployed to several health facilities, particularly those with limited screening services and high patient volumes where human resources are scarce.
“We hope to be done to the extent that we will be rolling it out by early next year. Now we have to test it to see if it matches or even exceeds the current screening standards. That is our vision. We are trying to improve efficiency within a limited budget.”
The AI tool is also expected to bridge the skills gap and serve as an assistant to healthcare workers without Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid and Cervicography (VIAC) training. The country faces a shortage of trained personnel due to low training numbers and the mass exodus of skilled professionals.
“We might not train enough gynecologists to meet the demand for gynecological services such as cervical cancer screening. This AI tool can assist non-gynecologist doctors and nurses in providing screening services. You may find that there is only one VIAC nurse at a facility screening hundreds of women. She might identify cases, but due to fatigue and burnout, she could miss some,” said Dr. Ncube.
To reduce errors and false positives, Dr. Ncube emphasized that they will continue training the AI tool to ensure accurate readings in line with standard AI requirements.
The Importance of AI in Cervical Cancer Screening
Artificial Intelligence has the potential to transform cervical cancer screening by improving accuracy, efficiency, and accessibility. AI-powered tools like ColpoPen can analyze medical images and identify abnormalities with precision, reducing the chances of human error and improving early detection rates. This is particularly crucial in low-resource settings where specialized medical professionals are scarce.
Furthermore, AI can help eliminate bottlenecks in screening programs by processing large volumes of data in a short time. This ensures that more women, especially those in rural and underserved areas, receive timely screening and intervention. By integrating AI into cervical cancer screening, Zimbabwe can move closer to achieving equitable healthcare access and reducing the mortality rate associated with the disease.
In 2018, Zimbabwe introduced the HPV vaccine into the country’s routine immunization program, vaccinating girls under the age of 10 against HPV. However, recent studies suggest that certain HPV variants might not be covered by the current vaccine.
