The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Kosovo expressed interest in improving the health system to address genital cancer and requested UNFPA to support a needs assessment mission to identify resources and gaps and propose feasible measures for improvement.
Prior to starting development of new services and activities addressing breast, cervical and prostate cancer or modifying the existing ones, a needs assessment is required to determine what services are available, how they are functioning and what factors limit women’s access and utilization of them.
An international consultant, hired by UNFPA, jointly with two members of the National Board for Cancer Control (NBCC) and in a in close collaboration with UNFPA Country Office and the Ministry of Health in Kosovo, cconducted a genital cancer needs assessment with regards to breast, cervical and prostate cancer services (organization, structure, coverage, human resources, effectiveness, awareness) with focus on prevention and control.
The findings of the assessment will help to provide a comprehensive description of breast, cervical and prostate cancer prevention and control national programs / services and will provide related recommendations on future actions aiming reduction of breast, cervical and prostate cancer deaths rate, by providing with access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services.
In addition, launching workshop of the assessment report will be held on 18th of December 2014. During this workshop, with participation of respective stakeholders, the follow up actions, with clear activities and time frames will be defined.
