The island of São Vicente in Cabo Verde has inaugurated an oncology center at the Hospital Baptista de Sousa (HBS) to decentralize chemotherapy treatments and reduce the need for patients to travel to Santiago for care. The new facility aims to bring specialized treatments closer to patients' homes, reducing the economic, social, and emotional burdens associated with inter-island travel. The center's opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Health.
According to the Ministry of Health, the oncology center will improve access to specialized care in the Barlavento region, allowing patients to receive treatment closer to their residences. In 2025, 64 oncological patients from the region were evacuated to the Hospital Universitário Agostinho Neto (HUAN) in Santiago. The new center aims to reduce this need and provide more accessible and humanized care to patients and their families.
The oncology center, implemented under the ONCO-CV project, is a partnership between the Cabo Verdean government, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto. The center is equipped with specialized equipment to support the preparation and safe administration of chemotherapy. Initially, the service will treat approximately three patients with breast cancer, with plans to expand to other pathologies as capacity allows.
A technical mission involving Cabo Verdean and Portuguese professionals will accompany the center's operationalization from October 26 to 31. The initiative also includes training for doctors, nurses, and pharmacists in the safe preparation and administration of treatments. This collaboration aims to ensure the center's success and provide high-quality care to patients.
The oncology center is expected to significantly reduce the number of patient evacuations to Santiago, improving the overall quality of life for patients and their families. By providing chemotherapy treatments locally, the center will alleviate the financial and emotional burdens associated with traveling to another island for care.
The Minister of Health's presence at the opening ceremony highlights the government's commitment to improving healthcare services in Cabo Verde. The oncology center is a significant step towards achieving this goal, and its success will likely have a positive impact on the country's healthcare system.
The introduction of this oncology center marks a significant milestone in Cabo Verde's healthcare development, demonstrating the country's efforts to address the healthcare needs of its population. The center's impact will be closely monitored, and its model may be replicated in other regions to improve healthcare services nationwide.
Key points
- The oncology center in São Vicente aims to reduce patient evacuations to Santiago by providing local chemotherapy treatments.
- The center will initially treat approximately three patients with breast cancer, with plans to expand to other pathologies.
- The initiative is a partnership between the Cabo Verdean government, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, and the Portuguese Institute of Oncology in Porto.
