Kinshasa, October 1st, 2026 (CPA).- More than 900,000 women are expected to take part in a cervical and breast cancer screening campaign in six provinces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Minister of Health announced Thursday in Kinshasa on the occasion of “Pink October,” the month dedicated to cancer screening among women.
“On the occasion of Pink October, the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, with the support of the World Bank and Roche, is launching a breast and cervical cancer screening campaign. A total of 912,000 women in six provinces, namely Kinshasa, Kongo Central, Haut-Katanga, Équateur, Tshopo and Kwilu, will be able to benefit from cervical cancer screening,” said Dr. Roger Samuel Kamba, Minister of Health. “This program will continue until 2028. In Kinshasa, 5,000 women will be able to benefit from free breast cancer screening,” he added.
According to the minister, free screening will be conducted at partner public and private hospitals, including the Cinquantenaire University Hospital Center, Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital, Monkole Hospital Center and Nganda Hospital Center. “I invite you to visit the website of the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, where you will find a link that will enable you to identify the nearest screening center. I urge you to register and take advantage of this screening, which can help save your life,” he urged.
General mobilization within the Public Service
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of the Public Service Jean-Pierre Lihau called on women working in his ministry to undergo screening in order to know their health status. “This initiative responds to a public health emergency and is fully in line with the government’s priorities. Therefore, in order to ensure the success of this operation, I instruct you to take all necessary measures to facilitate the mobilization of staff in your respective services,” he wrote in a memo. Deputy Prime Minister Lihau called on heads of services to inform and raise awareness among all female staff about the importance and relevance of the campaign. He also asked them to make the necessary practical arrangements to grant leave authorizations and the required facilities to female employees wishing to undergo screening. The campaign is being held from October 1 to 31 with the aim of encouraging women to undergo screening in order to prevent these diseases.