Brava Health Center Launches Screening Campaign for Prostate, Cervical, and Breast Cancer

Speaking to the media, the president of the Cape Verdean Association for the Fight Against Cancer (ACLCC), Benvindo Lopes, explained that the initiative is part of a series of activities carried out by the association throughout the year in various municipalities and islands of Cape Verde, with the aim of increasing public awareness about cancer, promoting prevention, and facilitating early diagnosis.

According to the official, screening tests are being offered during the campaign, specifically Pap smears for the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer, while for men, digital rectal exams and blood tests—including PSA—are being performed when indicated.

“The goal is to identify early changes so we can offer effective treatment, detect suspicious cases, and make an early diagnosis—all to provide timely treatment aimed at a cure or, at the very least, disease control, thereby preventing cancer-related deaths,” he explained.

Benvindo Lopes also emphasized that one of the association’s main objectives is to bring screening services to outlying communities, especially to areas where access to specialized health care is most limited.

In this regard, he highlighted the importance of the team’s presence on Brava Island, given the difficulties in accessing specialized medical consultations in the municipality.

The ACLCC team has been on the island since Thursday, the 24th, and the campaign runs through Saturday, the 26th, offering consultations and exams with specialized professionals.

“We are offering what I consider to be high-quality care, with specialized doctors and exams that are often very costly. Thanks to our partners, we have been able to bring these resources closer to the population,” he said.

For the president of the ACLCC, the initiative represents “a major benefit for the people of Brava” in terms of cancer prevention and early diagnosis.

Lopes also noted that the association intends to establish branches on all of the country’s islands and in all municipalities, although this goal has not yet been achieved.

Currently, the ACLCC has centers on the islands of Boa Vista, Maio, São Nicolau, and Santo Antão.

“This is an opportunity for the people of Brava to learn about their health status, and we are here to help them do so,” he urged.

For his part, patient Fernando Morais viewed the initiative positively, especially given the difficulty in accessing specialists on the island in recent years.

“This is an extremely important checkup, and the sooner we conduct the screening, the better for prevention,” he stated.

However, he argued that initiatives of this kind should be carried out more frequently on the island, since, as he stated, “it is taking too long” for specialized consultations to be made available to the people of Brava.