We have many challenges, first is the lack of human resource. We need to improve and to attract human resources for this area. Secondly, we have some lack in prevention and early detection. We must implement the HPV vaccination and the NIP programme. Also we need to expand the activities of screening of cervical cancer and breast cancer for all places in our country. Also we need some challenges about the diagnosis; we need training more about the pathology service, about the imaging service. Even in terms of treatment we need to do more training of surgeons because now we have a lack of surgeons. The surgery is done by the general surgeons not the oncology surgeons. Also we need to have more protocols, standardised protocols, for chemotherapy. Also we need to improve our infrastructure to do better practice.
Does all of this require more funding from the government?
Yes. For all these challenges we must work together with investment with the government, investment with partnerships, investment with all the ministers, all the stakeholders, not only the Minister of Health but also the Minister of Education, the Minister of Finance and civil society and other places to develop this national cancer programme and the activities.
Anything else to mention?
Yes, maybe. We can invest more in prevention because if we invest more in prevention it’s most cost effective than if we invest in treatment. As you know, in Mozambique and other countries, African countries, people arrive at health systems in an advanced stage of pathology.
