Bristol-Myers Squibb ‘Secure the Future’ Foundation

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among South African women. Only half of women in South Africa are screened for cervical cancer at the recommended intervals. In addition:

• HIV-infected women are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical pre-cancer than uninfected women,
• women living with HIV are 4-6 times more at risk of developing cervical cancer and
• HIV-infected women on antiretroviral therapy (ART) now have longer life expectancies, which increase the burden of chronic disease, including cervical cancer.

In 2017, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Secure the Future Foundation committed just over R15 million to a chronic care initiative in rural KwaZulu-Natal focused on:

Right to Care was the main implementing partner. Two sub-recipients helped implement the programme:

• Mpilonhle Sanctuary Organisation and
• Bhekuzulu Self Sufficient Project.

The project ran for two and a half years and closed out in 2019.