Request for national breast care programme
The Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) has submitted a formal application to the Ministry of Health and Social Services for the establishment of a national breast care programme, as well as the development of a national policy for the management of breast cancer in Namibia."The basic document has come a long way with public interviews, research, patient feedback, data collection and input from role players. The final piece of the puzzle was a Breast Indaba that CAN presented in October in partnership with Roche Pharmaceuticals," says the association's chief executive, Rolf Hansen.
The formal request includes current challenges, opportunities and a promised partnership to re-evaluate the current state of breast cancer in Namibia.
"We have a possible white paper, a pathway for patients and a coordinated collaborative plan to improve the health systems that are already in place. We can't say 'it works' but offer no solutions and no help," said Hansen.
"It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every Namibian woman has access to testing, early diagnosis, treatment and especially support during and after treatment."
Namibia is currently at the top of the ranks for breast cancers among its population per 100 000 inhabitants in Africa.
CAN and local medical officers from the Ministry of Health have since January this year established breast clinics to tackle the current challenges due to late diagnosis leading to extremely high numbers of advanced breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer in the country.
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