Cape Verde to install five mammography machines by 2027
The government plans to increase diagnostic capacity for stomach cancer and other diseases.
Cape Verde plans to significantly boost early cancer detection by 2027, aiming to install at least five mammography machines across the country. Currently, only one mammograph is functional at Hospital Agostinho Neto, hindering national screening efforts for breast cancer. Health Minister Lúcio Fernandes announced the initiative on October 30, 2026, during the inauguration of the Oncology Unit at Hospital Baptista de Sousa in São Vicente.
The new Oncology Unit at Hospital Baptista de Sousa will initially serve approximately three breast cancer patients. This facility aims to bring cancer treatments closer to patients in the Barlavento region, reducing the need for costly and emotionally taxing evacuations to Santiago. The government also intends to increase the number of CT scan machines from two to eight by next year and enhance stomach cancer diagnosis through more endoscopy and colonoscopy procedures.
To support these efforts, two Cuban gastroenterologists are expected to arrive soon to conduct diagnostic procedures on various islands. The Ministry of Health also plans to introduce a radiotherapy service within the current legislative term. 28 Cuban specialist doctors, including nephrologists, will join the workforce, alongside training for 50 Cape Verdean doctors in Brazil.
Why it mattersCape Verdeans will benefit from earlier cancer diagnoses and more accessible treatment, reducing the need for travel for medical care.