Pointe-Noire Workshop Aims to Modernize Cancer Reporting
Approximately 40 data collection agents and focal points from the Pointe-Noire department have been participating in a training workshop on the KoboCollect software since January 20th, aimed at digitizing cancer-related information.
The session is being held in the coastal city until January 24th. Organizers state the goal is to transition from paper-based routines to a faster, more structured digital reporting system.
National Cancer Control Program Sets Public Health Priorities
The Director of the National Cancer Control Program stated that this initiative addresses a public health need and seeks to modernize the cancer epidemiological surveillance system in Congo.
“Cancer remains a public health challenge given the numerous cases recorded in our country. To fight it effectively, we can no longer navigate blindly. We need numbers, accuracy, and responsiveness,” she said at the workshop’s opening.
KoboCollect Promises Faster, Real-Time Data Flow
It was explained that KoboCollect should facilitate data collection using mobile devices directly at the patient’s bedside or during consultations, while allowing for instant synchronization so that information from Pointe-Noire’s healthcare facilities can be centralized in real-time.
For participants, this change should reduce the delay between a consultation and the availability of usable data for program managers, while improving the uniformity of how cases are recorded across different sites.
Officials Link Digital Tools to Smarter Health Policy
The head of screening and epidemiological surveillance at the National Cancer Control Program emphasized that cancer is a major global public health issue and that Congo is also affected.
“This data will help guide our health policies in the fight against this disease, which represents a real burden for our families,” he said, presenting the digital transition as a practical step towards more informed decision-making.
Training Combines Rules, Methods, and Practical Exchange
Organizers indicated that the first day, focused on theory, covered the work charter and the digitization of data collection. The sessions sparked discussions between participants and trainers, reflecting a shared interest in how the new tool will be used in daily practice.
By combining procedural guidance with hands-on software practice, the workshop aims to align field routines with the program’s expectations for completeness and reliability of reports.
Congo Strengthens Its Epidemiological Sovereignty on Cancer
This initiative is part of broader efforts by Congolese health authorities to strengthen the country’s “epidemiological sovereignty” through more comprehensive registration and monitoring of new cancer cases.
For program officials, building a more robust dataset is not just technical work. It is also a means to support planning, improve coordination between facilities, and respond more quickly to trends emerging within Pointe-Noire’s health network.