Uganda Explores Community-Based Cancer Management to Improve Early Detection

Uganda is advancing plans to adopt a community-level cancer screening initiative aimed at reducing late diagnoses and improving treatment outcomes.

According to Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, this approach will enable early detection and management of cancer within local communities, thereby decreasing the need for patients to seek tertiary care.

Dr. Aceng shared these insights during the 5th Annual Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Universal Health Coverage and Global Health, held alongside the UN General Assembly in New York City.

"This community concept involves using a screening tool at the grassroots level, with diagnosis and confirmation made at lower healthcare units. This will require Uganda to establish diagnostic laboratories in lower-level health facilities, ensuring that treatment can begin in the community itself,” Dr. Aceng stated.

She emphasized that early detection would simplify treatment protocols, enabling regional referral hospitals to manage cases more effectively. “If cancer is detected early, the treatment protocols will be less complicated, benefiting communities by allowing treatment to remain localized,” she added.

The minister also highlighted the critical role of digital data in tracking patient progress. "We discussed the need for clear digital data systems to monitor patients and track their prognosis effectively," Dr. Aceng said.

The discussions during the meeting also extended to the management of other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as hypertension and diabetes, using a similar community-based approach.

This planned initiative is expected to significantly improve early detection and management of NCDs across Uganda, boosting overall public health outcomes.

By bringing healthcare services closer to the people, Uganda aims to enhance the fight against cancer and other NCDs, ultimately reducing the burden on higher-level health facilities.