DRC: ‘The prevention is the best treatment for cervical cancer’ (An obstetrician-gynaecologist)

Kinshasa, November 20^th, 2025 (CPA).-The prevention has been presented as the best treatment for cervical cancer by an obstetrician-gynaecologist during a conference dedicated to the sensitization and the screening of this disease, on Thursday in Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).  « The prevention is the best treatment for cervical cancer and does not require any resources. It involves the screening or the early detection of precancerous lesions.  It is better because the treatment is very expensive and can even be aggressive or unbearable for some patients,‘ has declared Joseph Bangambe, gynaecologist-obstetrician and medical director of the ’HJ » hospital.  During his speech, which focused on the sub-theme ‘Organisational challenges and impact on health in DRC’, This specialist has explained that the cervical cancer is one of the deadliest cancers in the country, yet more than 90% of cases are preventable through screening and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), hence the importance of establishing a structured prevention system. ‘The early screening saves lives, but most patients die because they seek medical attention at an advanced stage of the disease. Among the organisational challenges are the lack of a structured national programme, limited access to screening, low HPV vaccination rates, and the lack of integrated services and personnel,’ he has said. Dr Bangambe has indicated that this disease impacts public health through high preventable mortality, significant economic costs and pressure on the hospitals. He has, on this occasion, recommended that the sectorial authorities organise a national screening programme in routine services, subsidise access to HPV and strengthen community awareness. “The cervical cancer is preventable, but our organisational limitations are contributing to mortality. By strengthening the prevention, the screening and the vaccination, DRC can drastically reduce the impact on women, » he has specified. This gynaecologist has invited the health professionals and the institutions to engage in the fight against the cervical cancer in DRC.