Africa-Press – Cape verde. The Minister of Communities referred this Monday to Cape Verde’s commitment to reducing by 10 percent (%) cases of breast cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage and wants to continue with Portugal’s partnership in this regard.
Government committed to reducing cases of breast cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage by 10%
Jorge Santos mentioned this commitment in statements to Inforpress during the scientific event within the scope of the 3rd Pink October Meeting, promoted by the Associação Amigas do Peito, which takes place today and Tuesday, 31st, in Lisbon, with the participation of Portuguese and Cape Verdean experts which will address issues related to gains and challenges in the area of breast cancer.
“Cape Verde currently has the objective of reducing cases of breast cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage by 10%, through the early diagnosis program. In primary care we have a lot to learn, share and gain in this cooperation with Amigas do Peito, the University of Lisbon and Hospital de Santa Maria”, he indicated.
According to the minister, who is participating in the event on behalf of the Government, the idea is to consolidate cooperation and the valorization of human resources, without forgetting the role of Cape Verdean diaspora associations, which have dedicated themselves to this cause, and to the society of doctors from the United States of America (USA), who focused on preventing breast cancer and its early detection.
“At this moment, they have already obtained the equipment in the United States and will be in Cape Verde, in November, in São Vicente, Santo Antão, Cidade da Praia, Fogo and Santiago Norte. It is another part of the nation interested in reducing this level of cancer by ten percent, which will be a big step for Cape Verde”, he considered.
Regarding patient transfers to Portugal, Jorge Santos highlighted that from 2019 to 2022, 1,748 patients were transferred, of which 26% were treated at the Hospital de Santa Maria, mainly at the oncology specialty level.
“Hospital de Santa Maria and IPO Lisboa are the health institutions in Portugal that have received the most patients from Cape Verde, and in 2022, of the 662 patients who came to Portugal, 26% (173) were from the oncology space, 25% (171) from clinical cardiology and 17% (118) from ortho traumatology”, he indicated.
On the other hand, the Minister of Communities highlighted the decrease in transfers of kidney patients, due to the dialysis centers created in Cape Verde, maintaining that, at this moment, with the beginning of the process of institutionalizing ‘pacemakers’ at cardiology level, in which Santa Maria Hospital is cooperating with Cape Verde, transfer levels “will decrease even further”.
In his speech opening the event, the government official thanked the institutions for their cooperation and encouraged them to continue looking at Cape Verde, so that there are good results.
Several topics are under discussion during the two days of the meeting, such as “Difficult decisions after breast cancer surgery”, “The constant evolution of breast cancer”, “Focus on the patient”, “Quality of life, the multidisciplinary approach ”, “Sexuality”, “Aesthetics in oncology”, “Integrative oncology”, “Dealing with uncertainty”, among others.
The Associação Amigas do Peito, which has existed since 2008, is a social solidarity institution that informs, clarifies and helps to humanize breast cancer.
The association essentially works with people who come from other regions of Portugal and the PALOP (Cape Verde, Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau and São Tomé and Príncipe) who arrive in Lisbon for breast cancer treatment.
Every year, the Amigas do Peito Association assists an average of 400 patients, around half of which are from Cape Verde.
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