| dc.description.abstract | Cervical cancer is a serious and growing global
health issue. In 2008, there were approximately
274 000 deaths from the disease, about 88%
of which occurred in developing countries.
Although it affects women worldwide, cervical
cancer mortality is highest in low-resource
settings. Cryotherapy, also known as cryosurgery,
has been widely accepted as a practical
and effective method of treating precancerous
cervical lesions. It is appropriate for use in lowresource
settings because it is effective, has
limited side-effects, does not require electricity,
is inexpensive compared to other treatment
options, and is technically simple to implement.
This document seeks to assist programme
managers, purchasing managers, and other
interested parties with the procurement,
management and effective use of cryosurgical
equipment to treat precancerous cervical
lesions as part of a comprehensive cervical
cancer prevention programme. It provides
an overview of the procurement and performance
issues associated with some cryosurgical
devices, gas supplies and gas cylinders,
and necessary connectors. The document
offers technical specifications for purchasers,
including the design and performance recommendations
necessary to ensure the safety
and efficacy of cryosurgical equipment, issues
related to the gases used by the equipment,
and guidance on how to procure both the
equipment and the gases. Annexes provide
additional useful information. | en_US |
