Welcome Letters
Presentation of the Congress Program
The Scientific Committee of AORTIC-PALOP VII is honoured to present the scientific profile of this seventh edition of the Oncology Congress of the Portuguese-Speaking African Countries (PALOP), taking place in Maputo, Mozambique, from 22 to 24 April 2026.
The PALOP countries — Angola, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, and São Tomé and Príncipe — share not only a common language but also profound structural challenges in the field of oncology: health systems still under consolidation, a workforce in training, nascent population-based cancer registries, and a growing cancer burden frequently diagnosed at advanced stages. It is precisely this shared reality that gave rise to the collective determination to act together.
The formal genesis of this collaboration traces back to the 9th International AORTIC Conference, held in Durban, South Africa, where representatives of the five countries resolved to establish the PALOP-AORTIC Oncology Group, recognising that regional cooperation would be the most effective pathway to address the growing oncology crisis in their territories. Since then, this congress has become the leading scientific and strategic forum for oncology across Portuguese-speaking Africa.
The present edition — the seventh in the cycle and the second to be held on Mozambican soil — carries particular symbolic and programmatic significance. The guiding theme, « Building Together the New Era of Oncology in PALOP Countries », is not rhetorical aspiration: it is an operational commitment. The PALOP countries stand at a historic crossroads, where, for the first time, heightened political awareness of cancer, growing national technical capacities, and renewed international scientific interest in partnership with Africa are converging simultaneously. This initiative, supported by AORTIC, brings together international partners with the shared goal of improving cancer diagnosis and treatment across the region.
Priority Scientific Axes
- Cancer Data and Epidemiology in PALOP Countries. We cannot fight cancer without knowing it. A session dedicated to population-based cancer registries, with contributions from all five countries, aims to consolidate a culture of oncology data as an indispensable foundation for any health policy. The proposal to declare cancer a notifiable medical condition across the PALOP countries stands as one of the most significant moments of this congress.
- Cancers of Greatest Regional Impact. The programme includes in-depth sessions on cervical cancer — still the leading cause of cancer death among women in many of our countries — and breast cancer, with special attention to national programme implementation and global reference initiatives such as the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative.
- Human Resources Training and Capacity Building. The sustainability of oncology systems in the PALOP countries depends, above all, on the people who comprise them. The PALOP School of Oncology and knowledge mobilisation programmes are central to this edition, in recognition that high-quality clinical and scientific training is a long-term strategic investment.
- Radiotherapy and Oncology Research. Access to radiotherapy remains one of the greatest oncological bottlenecks in the region. The congress will address the progress and challenges of the different countries, while also dedicating meaningful space to ongoing scientific research in the PALOP, including initiatives in the field of oncogenomics through the PALOP OMICS programme.
Pre-Conference Programme
The pre-conference programme, held on 21 April, reinforces the simultaneously practical and educational character of this meeting. Three key initiatives will take place on that day:
Colposcopy and LEEP workshops, supported by the IGCS, aimed at training health professionals in the core principles of cervical cancer prevention in Mozambique and the PALOP countries.
A breast cancer course organised by the PALOP Oncology Group itself, bringing together clinicians and researchers from the five countries to address national breast cancer programmes and strategies for implementing the Global Breast Cancer Initiative within the specific PALOP contexts — thereby affirming the group’s capacity to generate and share knowledge drawn from its own regional experience.
A scientific research course supported by MD Anderson Cancer Center, strengthening the methodological skills of professionals across the region.
Acknowledgements
The Scientific Committee wishes to express its gratitude to all the partners who have made this edition possible: AORTIC, the Ministry of Health of Mozambique, MD Anderson Cancer Center, IGCS, AFCRN, Vital Strategies, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Roche, and all the researchers, clinicians and health authorities from the five countries who have contributed their knowledge and experience.
May this congress be, more than a scientific gathering, an act of collective construction — of networks, of knowledge, and of hope — for cancer patients across our countries.
Professor Lúcio Lara Santos, on behalf of the Scientific Committee of AORTIC-PALOP VII
Maputo, April 2026
Declaration
Declaração de Maputo sobre a Notificação Obrigatória do Cancro-Palop -Aortic
Os países africanos de língua oficial portuguesa (PALOP), reunidos no âmbito da Conferência Africana PALOP de Cancro da AORTIC, reconhecem que o cancro representa uma crescente ameaça à saúde pública nos nossos países, com impacto significativo na mortalidade prematura, na qualidade de vida das populações e no desenvolvimento socioeconómico.
Apesar deste impacto crescente, muitos países ainda enfrentam limitações importantes na disponibilidade de dados epidemiológicos robustos sobre a incidência, distribuição e resultados do cancro. A ausência de sistemas sistemáticos e obrigatórios de notificação limita a capacidade de planear políticas eficazes, alocar recursos de forma adequada e avaliar o impacto das intervenções de prevenção, diagnóstico e tratamento.
Neste contexto, os participantes desta conferência recomendam que os governos dos países PALOP considerem a classificação do cancro como doença de notificação obrigatória, como um passo fundamental para:
• fortalecer os registos oncológicos nacionais;
• melhorar a qualidade e a disponibilidade de dados epidemiológicos;
• apoiar o planeamento estratégico dos programas nacionais de controlo do cancro;
• facilitar a investigação científica e a cooperação regional;
• monitorizar o acesso e os resultados do tratamento oncológico.
A notificação sistemática dos casos de cancro permitirá uma melhor compreensão da carga real da doença e contribuirá para o desenvolvimento de respostas de saúde pública baseadas em evidência, adaptadas às realidades dos nossos países.
Os PALOP reafirmam o seu compromisso em trabalhar em colaboração com ministérios da saúde, instituições académicas, sociedades científicas e parceiros internacionais para fortalecer os sistemas de informação em saúde e promover políticas que permitam melhorar a prevenção, o diagnóstico precoce e o tratamento do cancro.
A AORTIC continuará a apoiar iniciativas regionais que promovam dados de qualidade, cooperação científica e estratégias sustentáveis para o controlo do cancro em África
AORTIC-PALOP VII 2026
Building Together the New Era of Oncology in PALOP Countries
Maputo, Mozambique
22–24 April 2026
Overview - Venue etc
Organization of the African Cancer Conference – AORTIC–PALOP 2026
Theme: Building Together a New Era of Oncology in PALOP Countries
Venue: Maputo City, Mozambique
Dates: 22–24 April 2026
Organizers: African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and Mozambique Ministry of Health (MISAU) – National Directorate of Medical Care (DNAM)
Partners: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Central Hospital of Maputo (HCM), PALOP Institutions, U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI), University of Texas (UT) MD Anderson Cancer Center, International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS), African Cancer Registry Network (AFCRN), Vital Strategies (VS), National and International Organizations
Sponsors: Roche
- Background and Rationale
The African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) is a non-governmental organization based in Africa, dedicated to cancer control across the continent. Its mission is to transform cancer control in Africa through collaboration in education, research, and the implementation of equitable, timely, and evidence-based interventions aimed at reducing the burden of cancer. This mission is implemented through capacity building, promotion of research, and dissemination of accurate and relevant information on cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and palliative care.
Within its mandate to strengthen capacity in cancer research, training, and control in Africa, AORTIC proposes to convene the AORTIC–PALOP 2026 Conference in Maputo.
The conference aims to promote scientific exchange among Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), strengthen regional collaboration, harmonize cancer prevention and control strategies, and coordinate existing international partnerships (including IGCS, MD Anderson Cancer Center, WHO Regional Office for Africa, among others). AORTIC hosts a PALOP interest group through which the engagement in this conference can be continued and sustained. To date there are limited training and convening opportunities specific to the needs of the PALOP region.
- General Objectives
- Strengthen scientific and technical collaboration among PALOP countries in cancer prevention and control.
- Harmonize regional approaches to cancer prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care.
- Enhance human resource capacity for training and research in oncology.
- Facilitate international partnerships and resource mobilization for cancer control programs.
- Promote dissemination of best practices, scientific evidence, and successful cancer control interventions.
- Specific Objectives
- Deliver multidisciplinary scientific sessions covering early cancer detection and diagnostics, surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, oncology nursing, pathology, and public health.
- Conduct hands-on pre-conference workshops aimed at professional capacity building.
- Pre-conference capacity-building workshops/activities held the day before the main conference include:
- A Colposcopy and Loop Electrosurgical Procedure (LEEP) Training Course targeting Mozambican physicians and obstetrics and gynecology residents from other African countries, with support from the International Gynecologic Cancer Society (IGCS);
- A Scientific Research and Medical Writing Course, supported by UT MD Anderson Cancer Center and other technical partners;
- A Breast Cancer Management Course, focusing on multidisciplinary approaches.
- Facilitate structured dialogue among policymakers, clinicians, researchers, and international partners.
- Develop a PALOP Regional Cancer Control Cooperation Framework.
- Launch technical reports and regional consensus statements.
- Provide an exhibition platform for partners, industry stakeholders, and scientific organizations.
- Target Audience
- Health professionals from PALOP countries
- Researchers and academic institutions (University of Texas – MD Anderson Cancer Center, Rice University)
- Government representatives and national cancer control program officials
- International organizations and partners (WHO, IARC, IGCS, AFCRN, Vital Strategies)
- Non-governmental organizations, patient advocacy groups, and people with lived experience
- Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and health technology companies
- Organizational Structure
5.1 Organizing Committee
Responsible for overall conference coordination, governance, scientific agenda oversight, logistics, and institutional communication, post-meeting reporting, oversight of the proposed PALOP Regional Cancer Control Framework.
5.2 Scientific Committee
Responsible for development of the pre-conference workshops, scientific program, speaker selection, abstract review, and quality assurance of scientific content.
5.3 Logistics and Operations Committee
Responsible for venue management, registration systems, catering services, security, accommodation, transportation, and technical equipment.
5.4 Finance Committee
Responsible for budgeting, financial management, procurement processes, accountability, and transparency.
5.5 Communications and Marketing Committee
Responsible for branding, promotional materials, media engagement, digital communication strategies, and institutional relations.
- Expected Results
- Successful delivery of a high-impact regional scientific conference with broad participation from PALOP countries and international partners.
- Implementation of a comprehensive and high-quality scientific program, including plenary sessions, workshops, and practical training activities.
- Production of a final conference report with strategic recommendations for regional cancer control.
- Strengthened and sustained international partnerships.
- Enhanced visibility of AORTIC and strengthened institutional capacity within the PALOP region.
- Formal commitments toward the implementation of the PALOP Regional Cancer Control Framework.
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Participant feedback collected through structured evaluation questionnaires.
- Daily operational and scientific activity reports.
- Develop PALOP conference report to present at AORTIC 2027 Conference.
- Post-conference regional impact meetings with country representatives at 6 and 12 months.
- Final conference report.
Attachments:
- General programme
- Pre-conference workshop schedule
- Link to AORTIC
- Link to Conference
Conference Programme
Local / Continental / International Delegation:
Ministry of Health, Mozambique
MD Anderson
IGCS (International Gynae-oncology Cancer Society)
IARC
AFRCN
Programme Topics:
Colposcopy, LEEP and principles in cervical cancer
Grant Writing
Breast Cancer
Cancer Registries
Surgical Oncology
Paediatric Oncology
Prostate Cancer
Palliative Care
Radiotherapy
Cancer Data in PALOPs
Industry Symposia
Exhibitors
