Luanda - Angola is to start in November, administering preventive cervical cancer vaccines to girls aged 9 to 12, the Secretary of State for Public Health, Carlos Pinto de Sousa, announced Friday in Luanda.
Speaking at the opening of the breast cancer awareness program, as part of the Pink October Campaign, the official stressed that the country has introduced a highly complex treatment that includes robotic surgery.
The secretary reiterated the Angolan government's support in the fight against cancer, underlining that with the opening of new hospital units and the use of advanced treatment techniques, there will be improvements in the care of these patients.
On September 16, Angola received 1.4 million doses of preventive cervical cancer vaccines for the first time.
The CECOLIN vaccine manufactured by the INOVAX laboratory is pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) and is considered highly effective and safe.
It only needs one dose to ensure lifelong protection.
Worldwide, more than 50 million doses have been administered with no adverse reactions.
On the occasion, the president of the Angolan League against Cancer (LACC), Luzimira João, said her institution has so far monitored around 600 breast cancer patients from five provinces of the country.
The league's support focuses on screening, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Luzimira João said there is a diversified program, with the aim of informing and raising awareness among the population about the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.
The program includes talks and awareness campaigns in Bengo and Luanda provinces.
The Angolan Cancer League was set up in 2006. The country has diagnosed 24,000 patients with various types of cancer (breast, cervix and prostate). AKA/OHA/MRA/AMP
