How Cervical ‘Selfies’ are Fighting Cancer in The Gambia

It’s not usually a good idea to take selfies of your private parts, but what if those photos could save your life? A new, tiny medical device is being used across Africa to detect cervical cancer from a mobile phone photograph. In Gambia, doctors are often in short supply, but nurses, midwives and smartphones are widely available, allowing patients to be diagnosed and treated remotely. In sub Saharan Africa, cervical cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths in women, but it takes years to develop and can be treated for under $30 if caught early. Can cervical selfies get women talking about a silent, unseen killer?

Presenter: India Rakusen
Reporter: Amelia Martyn-Hemphill

Image: Nurse using the EVA system in Gambia / Credit: BBC