From November 14 to 15, 2024, Kinshasa played host to the very first National Forum for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer.
Organized by the Consseil National de la Couverture Santé Universelle in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, this event is part of the strategic orientations aimed at charting a path towards the elimination of cervical cancer.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, cervical cancer remains a scourge that continues to wreak havoc on the female population.
Key recommendations for concrete action!
At the close of proceedings on Friday November 15 at the Sultani River Hotel, the experts recommended the adoption of palliative measures to strengthen patient care and contain the progression of the disease.
Professor Désiré Mashinda stressed the importance of a holistic approach to care, including therapeutic, spiritual, moral and social dimensions.
In his view, integrating these aspects into the roadmap that will culminate the conference will enable us to provide better support for patients.
For his part, Professor Tshimpi stressed the need to clearly differentiate treatment approaches in order to better understand the real stakes in this fight.
According to him, cervical cancer is curable if health professionals put in place treatment systems adapted to local realities.
This dynamic could consolidate the advances already made in the country.
Insufficient medical infrastructure!
However, a major problem was raised by most participants: the low number of laboratories specializing in cancer diagnosis throughout the country.
Kinshasa is home to the majority of these facilities, mainly located in the city center. This situation severely penalizes people living in remote areas.
A strategic turning point for the DRC!
The forum was also marked by the celebration of a new cooperation strategy between the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Congolese government. This initiative represents a decisive step towards improving healthcare for all, in line with the objectives of universal health coverage.
A promising roadmap!
To conclude the proceedings, the experts undertook to harmonize the recommendations arising from the group discussions and integrate them into a roadmap. This strategic document will serve as a basis to guide all future actions related to cervical cancer control in the DRC.
With this first edition, the Democratic Republic of Congo is demonstrating its determination to face up to this public health challenge, laying the foundations for more equitable and effective care for its citizens.
Flory Musiswa
