Background
In Guinea, breast and cervical cancer prevention efforts are hindered by low screening uptake, sociocultural barriers, and weak coordination of community-based actors. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) play a critical role in awareness raising and social mobilization, yet their contributions are often fragmented and insufficiently integrated into national cancer control programs. The October Pink 2025 campaign was implemented as an action research initiative to assess and strengthen CSO participation and coordination within a nationally led, integrated cancer prevention campaign.
Methods
A participatory action research approach was used, combining joint planning, capacity building, community implementation, and iterative analysis. CSOs were engaged in: (i) capacity strengthening of 124 community actors from 150 targeted CSOs; (ii) co-dissemination of harmonized cancer prevention messages in national languages; and (iii) multi-channel community outreach, including door-to-door activities, public gatherings, mass media, and digital platforms. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected using standardized tools and reviewed throughout implementation to inform adaptive adjustments.
Results
CSOs contributed substantially to campaign delivery, reaching 15,674 people, representing 105% of the initial target. Capacity-building activities improved CSO members’ knowledge and operational skills in cancer prevention, early detection, referral, and psychosocial support. However, key coordination challenges were identified, including incomplete alignment of CSO activities with the National Cancer Control Program, inconsistent data reporting, and the absence of a unified operational coordination mechanism.
Conclusion
The October Pink 2025 campaign demonstrates that structured CSO engagement can significantly enhance community reach and participation in cancer prevention initiatives. Action research proved valuable in identifying coordination gaps and informing corrective measures in real time. Institutionalizing CSO coordination mechanisms under national leadership is essential to improve effectiveness, accountability, and sustainability of community-based cancer control interventions. These findings provide actionable lessons for WHO- and UICC-supported programs in low-resource settings.