Libreville, Sunday November 5, 2023 (Infos Gabon) – The Gabonese authorities committed last Friday during the closing of the campaign called “Pink October” to a paradigm shift in the fight against these pathologies.
After a month of awareness campaign against female cancers, the 2023 edition of “Pink October” officially closed last Friday in Gabon with a fairly satisfactory result. It appears from this campaign that out of nearly 30,000 women made aware, 14,000 were screened. While 752 suspected cases have been detected and 552 other cases already in the process of being taken care of by the CNAMGS. These figures were communicated by the Ministry of Health during the closing ceremony in which the first lady, Zita Oligui Nguema, the Prime Minister and all members of the government took part.
On the occasion, the wife of the Head of State wished to salute the commitment of the highest authorities of the country for their commitment alongside women against these pathologies. “I would like, to this end, to recall the commitment and unfailing support at our side, of my husband, his excellency General Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, President of the Republic, Head of State. The Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions, through my voice, will continue to work to combat this disease which is wreaking havoc on our families. This phenomenon that we are facing is far too real, far too threatening, far too deadly,” underlined Zita Oligui Nguema.
She subsequently expressed the hope that this commitment to this noble fight would continue in order to save lives. “Our commitment must not be limited to the month of October. We must continue to encourage prevention, support research and offer unwavering help to those who are burdened by the disease. I would like to tell the hospital structures that we are counting on you for better care. Treat patients not as a waste of time, but as a gain in life,” she insisted. “We cannot stop there, moving towards a 100% screening rate is our priority objective,” added Zita Oligui Nguema.
We must reverse the trend
The Minister of Health especially invited healthcare staff to better welcome patients in hospitals and other health centers. “We invite staff to be dedicated to the information and reception requirements which must remain the primary indicators in our national public health policy. One effect, a better reception of patients in these health structures for the benefit of which Mr. President of the Transition, has decided to strengthen investments, training of human resources and governance, constitute the first step which must reassure all patients,” said pleaded Professor Adrien Mougougou.
For his part, the Prime Minister, head of government, Raymond Ndong Sima, regretted the current situation. “We must continue the investigations which are underway in relation to the first people who were identified. While waiting for the final assessment which will take place in a few months, the figures given are alarming, given our low demographics. But there is still reason to hope, given the decision taken by the government to make early detection, medical care and psychological support permanent in our country. These elements must be constant and we must not just wait for the month of October,” launched Raymond Ndong Sima.
“The time has undoubtedly come to engage in a global reflection on the question of infrastructure, human and material resources in the hospital world. The Head of State took the decision to strengthen investments as well as the training of personnel in the health sector. It is about better responding to the challenges we face with the objective of improving, in the medium and long term, the level of quality of care and better access to care. Everyone agrees, so we must take action. The government will keep its promises,” he concluded.
FIN/INFOSGABON/SM/2023
Copyright Infos Gabon
