How a Hospice in Uganda Became a Cancer Prevention Powerhouse—And Why It Matters

A hospice in Uganda has transformed from a place where women came to die into a lifesaving cancer prevention center, conducting nearly 29,000 screenings and helping protect over 47,000 girls from cervical cancer. Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja made this dramatic shift after watching too many women suffer preventable deaths from cervical cancer—the leading cause of cancer deaths among Ugandan women.

Why Did a Hospice Start Preventing Cancer Instead of Just Treating the Dying?

The turning point came in 2017 when Sylvia Nakami, executive director of Rays of Hope Hospice Jinja, and her team analyzed data from about 700 patients. They discovered that more than 60% of cancer cases among women were cervical or breast cancer—both diseases that can usually be treated successfully if caught early.

"Even with liquid morphine and other pain medications the hospice provided to ease symptoms, women with cervical cancer didn't just die a normal death. They died after suffering, suffering," says Nakami about the 20-year-old nonprofit.

So in 2018, they expanded beyond traditional end-of-life care into prevention, offering cervical and breast cancer screenings in the mostly rural Busoga region. The results have been remarkable: by the end of 2025, they had screened 12,782 women for breast cancer and 16,003 women for cervical cancer.

What Makes This Prevention Program So Effective?

The hospice's comprehensive approach tackles multiple aspects of cancer prevention simultaneously. Their clinical staff provides several key services that address the root causes of late-stage cancer diagnoses in rural Uganda:

• On-site Treatment: Staff provide immediate treatment for precancerous cervical lesions, eliminating the need for women to travel long distances to receive care
• Community Education: Teams educate communities about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which protects against cervical cancer, while countering harmful myths about infertility
• Mass Vaccination Support: In a project launched in 2023, Rays of Hope helped the district health department bring HPV vaccinations to more than 47,000 girls

The impact becomes clear when you consider the numbers: cervical cancer kills 350,000 women worldwide each year and 4,600 annually in Uganda, making it the country's top cause of cancer deaths. When the hospice launched its first mass screening in 2019, it lasted a few days and drew almost 700 women—fewer than one in 20 had been screened for cervical cancer before.

How Are Other Hospices Following This Model?

The success in Uganda is inspiring similar programs across Africa and beyond. Island Hospice and Healthcare in Zimbabwe, known as Africa's first hospice founded in 1979, began offering breast cancer screening about a decade ago. "If we teach people how to prevent it, there will be less demand for palliative care. It was an eye opener," says Elias Masendu, the hospice's program manager.

In October alone, Island Hospice's health workers screened more than 300 women during their Pinktober campaign. The model is also being studied in rural India, where researchers in Assam state found that health worker visits to over 2,000 households for screening and counseling showed potential for effective cancer control strategies.

"There is something we can do about it. And it gives us hope," says Nakami, adding that staff members no longer witness just "one exit: death." The hospice has doubled its traditional palliative care patients from about 750 in 2018 to over 1,500 in 2025, while expanding staff from 16 to 34 people due to growing regional needs.

However, funding remains a critical challenge. Global health funding plummeted by an estimated $10.5 billion between 2024 and 2025—a 21% decline that puts pressure on organizations trying to fill healthcare gaps. Rays of Hope relies on donors to cover its $600,000 annual operational budget, including private individuals and U.S. and Danish fundraising organizations.

The story of Deborah Nantenza illustrates the program's life-saving potential. The 46-year-old mother of six overcame her fears about screening after encouragement from health workers. When clinical staff found precancerous cervical cells during a June 2022 clinic screening, she was quickly treated. "I'm feeling better," says Nantenza, who now advocates for other women, many never screened before.