Oncology Results

A to Z Case Study: Brazil

Helping a country fulfill its national objectives

With nearly 160 million citizens, Brazil is the world's fifth most-populous nation. It is also the largest country in South America, covering nearly half the continent. Creating and implementing a national cancer control strategy for a country of this size would be an immense undertaking. In 1995, the Brazilian National Cancer Institute (INCA) engaged Comprehensive Care International (CCI) to help them do exactly that.

CCI worked with INCA to implement an organized Cervical Cancer Screening program. Elements of the solution included development of:

• an operations manual outlining cervical cancer care in Brazil
• an information system to register and track the women in the program
• an evaluation program to provide information about the effectiveness of the program
• a public education program on the importance of early detection, with the assistance of a communications firm and several Brazilian women's community groups

CCI's encouragement that this should be a program managed for and by women led to the involvement of women in senior positions in the program.

In 1998, CCI won the Canadian Award for International Cooperation for the planning and development of an organized cervical cancer-screening program for Brazil.

"We were looking for a partner to help us develop the strategy for INCA's future. Two points clearly favoured our working with CCI: their expertise with one of the world's best cancer systems, and their experience in developing and implementing public healthcare services. CCI quickly grasped and accommodated the Brazilian context. Their well-qualified technical personnel provide analysis and recommendations of the highest possible standards."

     - Marcos F. Moraes
       Director, Brazilian National Cancer Institute

Components of the project included:

• Consultation and strategic planning
• Needs assessment
• Program development, including early-detection screening
• Public education
• Professional training, including pilot program coordinators, colposcopists and pathologists, and information systems personnel
• Technology systems project management

To download a PDF file of the complete story, click here: Brazil Case Study