Pursuing the bilateral cooperation initiated in 2016 between Monaco’s Department of Health and Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health of Latvia, Professor Franco Borruto, a medical consultant to the Department, was invited by Latvian counterparts to hold a conference in Riga on the measures needed to be taken with regard to cervical cancer.
The Latvian authorities have expressed concern that the number of women affected by cervical cancer has increased significantly: out of 100,000 women, 23 cases have been detected, six times more than in a neighbouring country, Finland. Out of one million women in Latvia, two per week die of this disease.
Professor Borruto met with the Head of Government of Latvia, His Excellency Maris Kuchinskis, and the Minister of Health, His Excellency Anda Caksha, to discuss the strengthening of ties with the authorities and his confreres of the Faculty of Medicine of the University in Riga.
Cervical cancer has increased sharply in the Baltic countries and has received special attention from WHO and the Latvian authorities. Professor Borruto illustrated the possible solutions and will shortly be actively participating in courses at the University of Riga.
Monaco’s preventative system is a model for Latvia. Prevention and screening are key elements of the public health policy developed for many years by the Princely Government.