In Mozambique, the screening program for uterine and breast cancer began in 2009 and in just 10 years it has reached 23% of all women of reproductive age. A result to be very proud of, obtained from a fruitful collaboration between the Ministry of Health and international organizations such as CUAMM that support services within the Health Units. Despite the good results, it is important to be aware that 77% of Mozambican women have never had a check up and do not know the risks associated with uterine cancer. Percentage that becomes much higher in rural areas of the country.
And it is with this awareness that CUAMM is promoting the project “Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases“, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation. Among the results it aims to achieve is precisely that of increasing the availability and quality of cervical diagnosis and treatment services in 3 regions of the country.
In the Sofala Province in particular, the effort was greater because most of the health units were destroyed by the violent cyclone IDAI that hit the Province in March last year.
In addition to the training and accompaniment sessions of the health personnel, it was therefore necessary to restructure the health units to create clinics where diagnosis and treatment services were guaranteed. In the small Health Centre of Mutua, located about thirty km from the city of Beira, the works were very urgent because the outpatient visits took place in a tent and the Centre also received the women of the adjacent refugee camp which houses about 800 families who they lost their homes as a result of the cyclone.
The Health Centre was enlarged and a new equipped and functioning clinic was created; the health authorities wanted the inauguration to take place precisely in conjunction with the closure of the awareness activities on uterus and breast cancer that the region carried out during the month of October. And, despite the necessary precautions to reduce the spread of COVID, all the main authorities did not fail to give their support to this important initiative.
The wife of the Governor of the Province wanted to speak on behalf of everyone: “Having uterine cancer does not have to be a death sentence and a health centre like this can prove it – she said – We are aware that many efforts still need to be made, but the role of each of us is fundamental for raising awareness of other women ”, she concluded.
She then thanked the CUAMM nurses who, as the Minister of Health said, work tirelessly every month of the year to improve the health of other women like them.
