Training on Cervical Cancer Screening (VIA/VILI) and Early Intervention

What is VIA/VILI Screening and Early Intervention?

Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) and Visual Inspection with Lugol’s Iodine (VILI) are low-cost, point-of-care screening methods used to detect precancerous cervical lesions. Early intervention involves immediate treatment approaches such as cryotherapy or thermal ablation to prevent progression to cervical cancer, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Cervical cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in low- and middle-income countries due to limited access to screening, late diagnosis, and weak follow-up systems. Conventional screening methods like Pap smears and HPV testing are often inaccessible or unaffordable, resulting in missed opportunities for early detection.

This course provides hands-on, practical training in VIA/VILI screening and same-day treatment approaches. It equips healthcare providers with the skills to perform screening, identify lesions, and deliver immediate interventions, improving early detection and reducing loss to follow-up.

Key Concepts Covered

• Principles of cervical cancer prevention
• VIA and VILI screening techniques
• Identification of precancerous lesions
• Infection prevention and control (IPC)
• “Screen-and-treat” approach
• Cryotherapy and thermal ablation methods
• Patient counseling and informed consent
• Documentation and referral systems

Participants will apply skills to:
• Conduct cervical cancer screening in primary care settings
• Identify and classify abnormal cervical lesions
• Provide same-day treatment using low-cost technologies
• Improve access to screening in underserved communities
• Reduce loss to follow-up through immediate intervention
• Strengthen national screening programs

By the end of the course, participants will be able to perform VIA/VILI screening confidently, deliver early interventions, and improve cervical cancer prevention outcomes.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

• Nurses and midwives
• Obstetricians and gynecologists
• Clinical officers and primary healthcare providers
• Public health and reproductive health professionals
• NGO and community health workers
• Program managers in cancer prevention
• Health facility administrators

Individual Impact
• Strengthen practical screening and diagnostic skills
• Improve confidence in performing VIA/VILI procedures
• Enhance ability to provide early treatment
• Build patient counseling and communication skills
• Improve infection prevention practices

Organizational Impact
• Increase cervical cancer screening coverage
• Improve early detection and treatment rates
• Reduce cervical cancer morbidity and mortality
• Strengthen preventive healthcare services
• Enhance program efficiency through screen-and-treat models

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Perform VIA and VILI screening techniques accurately
• Identify precancerous and suspicious lesions
• Apply screen-and-treat approaches effectively
• Provide cryotherapy or thermal ablation safely
• Counsel patients on screening and treatment
• Maintain proper documentation and referral systems
• Strengthen cervical cancer prevention programs

Module 1: Introduction to Cervical Cancer Prevention
• Epidemiology and burden of cervical cancer
• Risk factors and disease progression
• Importance of early detection
• Overview of screening methods
• Exercise: Assess screening gaps in your setting
• Case Study: Impact of early intervention

Module 2: VIA and VILI Screening Techniques
• Principles of VIA and VILI
• Preparation and procedure steps
• Identifying normal vs abnormal findings
• Infection prevention and control (IPC)
• Practical: Hands-on screening simulations
• Case Study: Accurate lesion detection

Module 3: Diagnosis and Decision-Making
• Classification of lesions
• Eligibility for immediate treatment
• Referral criteria for advanced cases
• Documentation and reporting
• Exercise: Clinical decision-making scenarios
• Case Study: Managing borderline cases

Module 4: Early Treatment Methods
• Cryotherapy techniques
• Thermal ablation procedures
• Safety protocols and contraindications
• Post-treatment care and follow-up
• Practical: Treatment simulations
• Case Study: Successful early intervention outcomes

Module 5: Program Implementation and Community Outreach
• Screen-and-treat program design
• Community mobilization and awareness
• Addressing stigma and barriers
• Monitoring and evaluation
• Capstone Exercise: Cervical screening program plan
• Case Study: Scaling low-cost screening programs