Integrating Culturally Adapted Psychosexual Counseling into Cancer Survivorship Care in Eastern Ethiopia

Cancer survivors in Eastern Ethiopia often experience significant psychosocial and sexual health challenges following treatment, yet these issues are rarely addressed within routine oncology care due to limited services, cultural stigma, and a lack of trained providers. This project will integrate culturally adapted psychosexual counselling into survivorship care by training healthcare professionals in the PLISSIT counselling model, developing counselling toolkits in Afaan Oromo, Somali, and Amharic, and providing structured support to 200 cancer survivors across three hospitals. By generating local evidence and building provider capacity, the initiative aims to improve quality of life for cancer survivors and establish a scalable model for integrating psychosocial support into cancer care in Ethiopia.

– Duration: 12 months 

– Budget: 10,000 $

– Champion: Dr. Susana Banerjee

– Focus: Cancer Survivorship, Supportive Care, Psychosocial Support, Health Systems Strengthening, Capacity Building

– Coverage: Eastern Ethiopia (Harar, Dire Dawa and Jigjiga)

– Partners: Haramaya University, Ethiopian Ministry of Health