CONSULTANTS from Ipswich Hospital are teaming up with doctors in Egypt to help introduce the African country's first cervical cancer screening programme.

CONSULTANTS from Ipswich Hospital are teaming up with doctors in Egypt to help introduce the African country's first cervical cancer screening programme.

Gynaecologists Ayman Ewies and Barnaby Rufford travelled to Alexandria, Egypt's second largest city, to teach their peers abroad how to perform colposcopy - a technique using a camera to visualise the neck of the womb which forms part of the screening process for cervical cancer.

Mr Ewies said: “Since the UK introduced a screening programme for cervical cancer around 20 years ago there's been a marked decline in the number of cases - so much so the programme is respected across the world.

“In the Middle and Far East, and in Africa there is no screening programme and as a result many women die.

“We went to teach and transfer our experience and it was the first time the doctors had been exposed to Western experience of this kind."

Mr Ewies and Mr Rufford lectured on uses of the camera, indications for colposcopy and management techniques for when abnormal cells are diagnosed during the trip.

Mr Rufford said: “This was the first time there was a colposcopy course in Alexandria and it was very well received.

“We are now hoping to host an Egyptian doctor each year at Ipswich Hospital to continue the transfer of skills.”

Have you been helped by the gynaecological team at Ipswich Hospital? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.