In Senegal, gyneco-mammary cancers (breast, cervical, ovarian, endometrial) account for nearly 40% of cases. While treatment remains limited, these pathologies primarily affect women, who already face other public health challenges such as maternal mortality and other chronic diseases. "70% of cases are detected at a late stage, thus limiting the chances of recovery," said Mouhamadou Bachir Ba, a radiotherapist oncologist at Dalal Jamm Hospital in Guédiawaye. He emphasizes that this highlights the issues of qualified human resources, treatment availability, financial accessibility, and the consistency of treatment policy at the central level.

"Cancer management requires multidisciplinary expertise. Whereas, in Senegal, we only have 4 (including 2 in training) medical oncologists, 18 radiation oncologists, 10 surgical oncologists, 12 nurses specialized in chemotherapy, 4 (including 2 in training) medical physicists, 15 radiotherapy technicians and 2 maintenance engineers," he listed yesterday, Tuesday, August 26, during the workshop on women's cancers organized in Dakar, at the conference room of the International Center for Research and Training in Applied Genomics and Health Surveillance (CIGASS) of Cheikh Anta Diop University. A meeting held at the initiative of the Association of Journalists in Health, Population and Development (AJSPD), through the Health in Light project, in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, to equip reporters so that they become effective relays of awareness and advocacy.

Thus, the doctor indicates that strengthening the training and retention of specialists is a demand. This, in addition to securing the supply chain and drug supplies. Still on the challenges to be addressed, oncologist Mouhamadou Bachir Ba emphasizes the integration of a genuine conservative and reconstructive surgery policy and investment in radiotherapy and equipment maintenance.