Today we celebrate World Cancer Day, with the slogan “Bridging the Care Gap,” emphasizing the need to make cancer prevention and treatment services accessible to all. Even in developing countries, morbidity and mortality related to cancer are on the rise, as is the case in Mozambique, where in 2022 there were 26,578 new cases of people with cancer and 19,020 deaths due to cancer.
Among these, cervical cancer is the most frequent in women (33.4%), followed by breast cancer (12.5%) in third place. Specifically, the mortality rate for cervical cancer is seven times higher than the global average and more than double the average for African countries. This condition recorded a 47.8% increase in new cases and 36.9% of cancer-related deaths in 2022.
Cervical cancer is caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), primarily transmitted through sexual contact, but also through other means such as childbirth and the use of contaminated materials. Mozambique is following WHO guidelines, aiming to vaccinate 90% of girls against the papillomavirus by 2030.
“We have started vaccinating nine-year-old girls with two doses, and we are expanding the target group. Additionally, we conduct screenings in our health units for women with cervical lesions, provide diagnoses, and proceed with treatment in confirmed cases of the disease,” comments Dr. Sheila Tualufo, director of the Non-Communicable Disease Control Program at the Ministry of Health (MISAU).
Another preventive measure, known as secondary prevention, is screening. In this context, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, through the Non-Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control project, has promoted screening for women in health centers in the provinces of Sofala, Zambezia, and Maputo. “The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the greater the chances of treatment,” says Dr. Tualufo, emphasizing how early diagnosis reduces morbidity and helps improve the quality of life. One of the goals is to identify women aged 15 to 55 with precancerous lesions, estimated at around 92,000, for whom timely treatment can save lives.
MISAU will soon launch a campaign for the elimination of cervical cancer. “We want to remind all women between the ages of 25 and 54 to undergo screening for cervical and breast cancer at health facilities,” said Dr. Tualufu, highlighting the symbolic importance of today. “We want to invite all parents and guardians to bring nine-year-old girls to health centers to complete the vaccination cycle against the papillomavirus.”
The final note that Dr. Tualufo wanted to leave at today’s meeting is about the strategic, technical, economic, and human importance of Italian Cooperation, which has been contributing to the fight against non-communicable diseases from the very beginning, “always by our side.”