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Taking These Kinds of "Selfies" Help Low Income Women Get Screened For Cervical Cancer

Low income women taking selfie

Underserved women are those who live in non-industrialized, poor agricultural countries that are struggling to become more advanced economically and socially. They have less access to screening services that would help detect cervical cancer early. Early diagnosis is important to prevent cervical cancer. An Israel-based company called MobileODT has found a solution to increase screenings for low income women. It's called a mobile colposcope.

The World Health Organization (WHO) lists cervical cancer as one of the most deadliest cancers in the world. More than 270,000 people die each year from cervical cancer, and most of the deaths -- 85 percent -- are in developing countries. One company has developed a low-cost screening tool to help underserved women be screened for cervical cancer.

How the device works

The mobile colposcope medical-grade case connects to a cell phone where a "selfie" of a woman's cervix can be taken and stored. It can be used by clinicians in developing countries to take a picture of a woman's cervix and share it with other medical professionals to get an evaluation. The device is currently being used in 11 countries, including Kenya, Gambia, Haiti and Peru. The device is much less expensive -- $1,800 compared to a traditional colposcope that costs from $10,000 - $15,00 -- and results are immediate; traditional colposcope screening results take weeks to complete.

The company hopes to get approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) so they can bring the device to the U.S. and help other low-income women.

Learn more at www.mobileodt.com


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