**2. Criteria for a sucessful screeening programme**

Irrespective of the type of screening embarked on whether organized or opportunistic, Wilson et al (1968) stipulated certain standards to be met for a successful screening programme and these include:


Judging from the above stated it is obvious why most of the screening projects designed by most governments in Sub Saharan African and Asia do not succeed as against what is obtained in the developed regions of the world. Gynaecological malignancies like cervical cancer have known life cycle and well established link with 99% of cases of cervical cancer caused by oncogenic strains of human papilloma virus of 16,18, 35 and 41 identified with a duration of 10-20 years of transformation to malignancy noted. The universality and acceptable of the screening methods and treatment options for precursors of the cancer had made it an epitome of success in the area of reducing morbidity and mortality. Ovarian malignancies do not have known precursor thus making screening a challenge without acceptable consensus on screening modalities.
