The Program for the Timely Detection of Breast, Cervical and Prostate Cancer, implemented by the National Health Service (SNS), under the Uniting Wills initiative of First Lady Raquel Arbaje, and with the support of the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa), is celebrating its second anniversary, with a total of 67,470 people screened in its operations.
The first lady, Raquel Arbaje, and the director of the SNS, Dr. Mario Lama, led the opening ceremony of the day, which is being held from October 4 to 6 at the Columbus Lighthouse, to commemorate the second anniversary of the program and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
During the three-day event, mammography, sonomammography, dentistry, urological consultations and pediatric nutrition services will be offered from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
“During these two years we have seen how women and men, stimulated by this program, have come to the hospitals and participated in the mobile operations, to have preventive check-ups. We are very pleased to have contributed to breaking down the myths that prevent men from having a prostate exam. They are an important part of the almost 78,000 people screened,” said First Lady Raquel Arbaje, speaking at the opening ceremony of the day.
She also thanked the collaboration that artists and influencers offered to the program’s promotional campaign, recording free messages for television, radio and social networks.
Dr. Lama indicated that the program is one of the actions implemented by the Government to guarantee Dominicans the right to health. “With this initiative we are bringing health closer to the people, and at the same time promoting a culture of self-care and prevention. Early detection of cancer allows timely access to treatment, which can save lives, and that is why we will continue to take the mobile clinics to every corner of the country”.
The head of the SNS also informed that 2 minibuses will be added to the initiative to mobilize the users who have been registered in the program and need to receive treatment at the Rosa Emilia Sanchez Perez de Tavares National Cancer Institute (INCART), so that these people can access treatment in a timely manner.
Also present at the event were Daniel Rivera, Minister of Public Health; Roberto Angel Salcedo, Director of Strategic and Special Projects of the Presidency (Propeep); Eddy Perez-Then, advisor, and Julia Drullard, Governor of Santo Domingo, among other personalities.
Program Facts
The Program for the Timely Detection of Breast, Cervical and Prostate Cancer is implemented in 10 hospitals of the Public Network and through mobile clinics throughout the national territory; of the total number of people screened, 29,487 were captured in clinics and 37,983, in the health establishments of the program.
From October 2021 to date, more than 280 mobile units have visited all the provinces of the country, bringing health closer to the people, thanks to a medical and health care team committed to this mission.
Through the program, 33,212 women have been screened with diagnostic tests such as mammograms and sonomammograms; 20,082 men have received prostate check-ups and PSA laboratory tests, while 14,176 women have had access to gynecological tests, with 9,617 pap smears and 4,559 HPV tests.
Since implementation, more than 15,800 patients were found to have a finding requiring further follow-up. Among them, 158 were detected with some type of cancer; 63 were positive for breast cancer, 60 for prostate cancer and 35 for cervical cancer; of these, 114 patients receive timely care at INCART.
Source: presidencia.gov.do
