Labscroll Medicals, a diagnostic and research firm operating across Africa, has launched a cancer screening and treatment initiative that will provide free services to 400 Rwandans.

The initiative, dubbed the Pink Ribbon Project, was launched on Thursday, October 1, in Kicukiro District, in partnership with the High Commission of Nigeria in Rwanda. It targets 200 women and 200 men, with screening focused on cervical, breast and prostate cancers.

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The project seeks to promote cancer prevention, early detection and access to treatment.

Paul Ogbole Peter, managing director of Labscroll Medicals, said the initiative was driven by concerns about a growing cancer burden in Africa and the challenges associated with late-stage detection.

"We need in Africa to move from an issue of treating cancer to preventive care,” Peter said.

He said factors including irregular medical screening and late detection contribute to the impact of cancer on the continent, adding that preventive healthcare should become a greater priority.

Labscroll Medicals, a diagnostic, research, forensic and consultancy, has offices in Nigeria, Botswana and Rwanda and says it works with universities and multinational research organisations on diagnostic and research initiatives.

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Peter said the company chose to combine screening with awareness in an effort to encourage people to take greater responsibility for their health.

Cancer burden

The initiative comes as Rwanda continues to strengthen efforts to detect and prevent cancer at an earlier stage.

Jean de Dieu Hategekimana, a senior officer for cancer diseases at Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC), said about 6,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in Rwanda every year.

Women account for about six in 10 new cases, he said, while prostate cancer is the leading cancer among men, with approximately 600 new cases diagnosed annually.

Hategekimana said the figures represent families and individuals whose outcomes can be affected by how early the disease is detected.

"When breast cancer is found early, it is very often curable, whereas cervical cancer can be even prevented through HPV vaccination or screening,” he said.

Rwanda has expanded cervical cancer prevention and screening programmes, including HPV vaccination and HPV DNA testing as a primary screening method.

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Hategekimana said cervical cancer screening services have also been incorporated into the national health insurance package, making it more accessible to women.

"We therefore call for more partners to step forward and support the national response against the most prevalent cancers,” he said.

Focus on early detection

The Pink Ribbon Project is being launched as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is observed in October.

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This year’s global theme, Every Story is Unique, Every Journey Matters, was highlighted during the launch, with speakers stressing that every cancer diagnosis affects not only an individual but also their family.

Ibrahim Zanna, Nigeria’s Acting High Commissioner to Rwanda, said the initiative was an example of cooperation between the two countries in an area directly affecting people’s wellbeing.

He said the project goes beyond providing free tests by promoting preventive healthcare and encouraging people to seek medical attention before illnesses become more difficult to treat.

The 400 beneficiaries, he said, include people who might otherwise face financial or other barriers to accessing screening.

"Behind each of these numbers is a person, a family, and a future that early detection can protect,” Zanna said.

He also called for cancer awareness efforts to continue beyond individual campaigns, pointing to the need for public education, accessible diagnostic facilities and timely treatment.

Beneficiaries encouraged to test

For some people who took part in the screening, the initiative provided an opportunity to overcome fear or embarrassment associated with cancer testing.

Aime Dady Hirwa said Thursday’s exercise was his first time undergoing prostate cancer screening.

He said he decided to take the test because knowing his health status could help him take action early if a problem was detected.

"For people who feel shy about getting screened, I don’t think that that is the right mindset because, after all, it is your health,” he said.

Hirwa encouraged others to get tested and use the results to make informed decisions about their health and lifestyle.

Angella Munezero, another beneficiary, said free screening can encourage more people to test, particularly those who may delay seeking medical services.

"For women in particular, early screening is very important,” she said.

She added that early detection gives people a better opportunity to seek treatment before a condition becomes more complicated.

The event brought together representatives from several African countries, including Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Ghana, Mozambique and Gabon, alongside Rwandan health officials and other partners.