PURPOSE Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of mortality and morbidity with Sub-Saharan Africa bearing the greatest brunt due to the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) thus further constraining the already weakened health system. The goal of the Blueprint program is to improve access to screening, diagnostics, treatment and patient support services for breast, cervical and prostate cancers while integrating with other NCD care through a health systems strengthening approach by collaborating with communities, districts health care services and Uganda's ministry of health and its partners. METHODS International Cancer Institute (ICI) partnered with Uganda Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance and Uganda Cancer Society to implement two projects on strengthening community awareness and screening for diabetes and hypertension integrating breast, cervical and prostate cancer; and improving public awareness on cancer by building advocacy capacity for cancer control in Uganda's Bushenyi, Mbarara and Sheema Districts. The program targets were to screen 36,000 clients for the 5 NCDs; train 70 healthcare providers (HCPs) and 160 community health workers (CHWs); reach 150,000 community members with cancer messages and to build the capacity of 10 facilities in NCD care. RESULTS Between January and December 2023, at total of 1,675 women were screened for cervical cancer;1,926 for breast cancer; 608 men for prostate cancer; 7,406 people for diabetes and 11,477 for hypertension; 587,172 community members were reached with cancer messages through community dialogue meetings and radio spot messages; 80 HHPs, 30 media personnel and 40 CHWs were trained; and a baseline survey was conducted on 10 facilities and 25 HCPs through which, support for basic NCD screening equipment and supplies was provided and 2 supportive supervision visit conducted. Nine abstracts were also presented in local and international conferences. CONCLUSION Implementation of cancer control programs in Sub-Saharan Africa calls for collaborative partnerships between local and international or governmental and non-governmental organizations with the aim of strengthening the existing public health system. Comprehensive interventions that include cancer awareness, research, advocacy, training, screening and linkage to care provide access to resource sharing opportunities and creation of sustainable cancer control programs.
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Kitur et al. (2024) studied this question.
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