Abstract 53: Promoting WHO's Cervical Cancer Elimination Goals ‘90-70-90' by Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating the ECHO Latin America (ECHO ELA) Program
Authors: Miguel-Majors Sandra L. San , Trimble Edward L. , Lowy Doug , Lopez-Varon Melissa , Baker Ellen , Schmeler Kathleen , Arrossi Silvina , Oliveira Maria Tereza da Costa , Maza Mauricio , Montealegre Jane R. , Salcedo Mila P. , de Oliveira Lucia Helena , Luciani Silvana 
Published: July 2021

Purpose: Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women in some countries in the Region of the Americas.1 Cervical cancer is preventable through HPV vaccination, screening and treatment of precancerous lesions, and can be effectively treated if diagnosed early.2

Methods: Under the framework of the Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem, the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson) and the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) partnered to develop ECHO Latin America (ECHO ELA). ECHO ELA is modeled on Project ECHO® (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes) a hub-and-spoke knowledge-sharing approach where expert teams lead virtual didactic lectures and case discussions, amplifying the capacity for participants to deliver best practice programs to their regions. ECHO ELA consists of monthly, Spanish-language telementoring conferences about cervical cancer prevention and control. The program targets Ministries of Health, Immunization Program Managers and key cervical cancer stakeholders in Latin American (LA) countries. Its primary goal is to assist countries in reaching their WHO cervical cancer elimination goals “90-70-90:” vaccinating 90 percent of girls against HPV by the age of 15, screening 70 percent of women for cervical cancer at ages 35 and 45, and treating 90 percent of women diagnosed with pre-invasive cervical lesions or cervical cancer.

Results: To date, 222 participants from 21 countries have registered. Seven sessions have been held averaging 93 participants per session. 85 participants completed the baseline survey addressing priorities, capacity, and desired outcomes. Baseline, mid-year evaluation results, within the COVID-19 context, and learned lessons will be presented.

Conclusion: ECHO ELA is potentially an effective tool to convene participants from multiple countries to enhance collaboration and support countries' progress towards the elimination of cervical cancer in the Americas.

Citation Format: Sandra L. San Miguel-Majors, Edward L. Trimble, Doug Lowy, Melissa Lopez-Varon, Ellen Baker, Kathleen Schmeler, Silvina Arrossi, Maria Tereza da Costa Oliveira, Mauricio Maza, Jane R. Montealegre, Mila P. Salcedo, Lucia Helena de Oliveira, Silvana Luciani. Promoting WHO's Cervical Cancer Elimination Goals ‘90-70-90' by Developing, Implementing, and Evaluating the ECHO Latin America (ECHO ELA) Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 9th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Global Cancer Research and Control: Looking Back and Charting a Path Forward; 2021 Mar 10-11. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021;30(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 53.