By Ndey Sowe
The Solace Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to cancer awareness and advocacy in The Gambia, has launched the first-ever National Breast Cancer Training Initiative.
The training, held on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, was sponsored by Pfizer in collaboration with the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital and the National Cancer Control Program under the Ministry of Health.
This landmark initiative is designed to equip healthcare workers across all regions of The Gambia with essential knowledge and skills for early detection, diagnosis, and management of breast cancer. The program targets doctors, nurses, midwives, public health officers, and community health workers to improve early detection rates and enhance patient outcomes.
Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality in The Gambia, with late-stage diagnoses being a major concern. Through structured workshops and interactive sessions, the training seeks to strengthen national capacity in cancer care and awareness.
Dr. Lamin Jaiteh, President of the Solace Foundation and Lead Trainer of the National Breast Cancer Training Initiative, emphasized the growing burden of breast cancer in The Gambia.
“Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in The Gambia, and globally, it is the number one cancer among women. As practitioners in hospital settings and healthcare centers, we recognize that this is a growing problem in the country,” he stated.
Dr. Jaiteh underscored the importance of early detection in reducing treatment costs and improving survival rates. “We are still developing our capacity to treat cancer effectively. Cancer is difficult to diagnose, expensive to treat, and often detected at very late stages. Raising awareness on early detection will help reduce the financial burden on the nation and improve patient outcomes,” he added.
Dr. Charles Robert, former Deputy Chief Medical Director of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, described the training as a valuable opportunity for healthcare workers to disseminate critical knowledge within their communities.
Dr. Samba Bah, Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital, echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the urgency of the initiative. “The awareness of cancer in this country is still very low. As healthcare frontliners, it is crucial for us to recognize the early signs and symptoms of breast cancer,” he noted.
Musa Camara, Regional Health Director for Western One, provided key statistics on breast cancer prevalence in The Gambia. “Breast cancer is considered the second most prevalent cancer among women in The Gambia, accounting for 15% of all cancers affecting women. Over 50% of diagnosed patients succumb to the disease, primarily due to late detection, low awareness, and limited access to screening facilities,” he explained.
The primary goal of the training is to ensure that healthcare workers are well-equipped to detect and investigate breast cancer cases early and make timely referrals. The initiative is expected to play a significant role in improving national cancer care and ultimately reducing breast cancer-related mortality in The Gambia.
