Holguín Cancer Center implements new international project
- Written by Lourdes Pichs Rodríguez
- Published in Health
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3D image-guided brachytherapy for image treatment in gynecological cancer. Photos: Courtesy of the Cancer CenterA second international project began to be implemented since last January 1 at the Territorial Oncology Center (COT) of Holguín, with the technical cooperation of the Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the improvement of the quality of care of radiotherapy services and nuclear medicine in the eastern region of Cuba.
The aid program is planned until December 31, 2021 and has approved more than 235 thousand euros, although it can reach half a million, if there is the possibility of complementary financing, as announced by Dr. Nitza Sanz, director of the COT.
The specialist said that this project will contribute to reduce cancer mortality by two percent, increase survival and improve the quality of life of patients, objectives of the Comprehensive Program for the Control of this disease in the island.
Multidisciplinary medical assistance at the Cancer Center.In addition, cooperation will allow increasing the effectiveness in radiotherapy and nuclear medicine in the homonymous services of Santiago de Cuba, Camagüey and Villa Clara. It will also allow the realization of workshops on topics related to telecobalt therapy, brachytherapy and nuclear medicine taught by IAEA experts.
"These updating activities will be a complement to scientific visits and scholarships for specialists, medical physicists and technologists at IAEA international reference centers," she said.
Sanz, who is a specialist in Pathological Anatomy, said that as part of this aid, essential technological equipment will be acquired for the extension of brachytherapy, at least two new anatomical locations and for the performance of more precise quality controls of teletherapy treatments and of nuclear medicine studies.
She acknowledged that both this project and the one of the Agency for Development Cooperation of the Principality of Asturias, Spain, which was underway some time ago at the Oncology Center, have no background in Holguín oncology and are directed by the specialist in Medical Physics of the radiotherapy service of the COT, the master Reytel Samuel Pérez Velázquez and have the collaboration of experts from the National Oncology Group of MINSAP and the Nuclear Energy and Advanced Technologies Agency of CITMA.
