Interview with Dr. Diana Valuta, Head of the Cervical Screening Coordination Unit, Obstetrician-Gynaecologist, Oncologist, Research Institute for Mother and Child Health Care.
Dr. Diana Valuta was one of the invited speakers at the International Conference ‘RENAM E-Infrastructure – Supporting Excellence in National Research and Education’, organised under the auspices of the project ‘EU4Digital: Connecting Research and Education Communities (EaPConnect)’. The event took place on October 8, 2024 at the Moldova State University bringing together participants from 14 countries.
Dr Valuta, can cervical cancer be eliminated?
Cancer remains a major problem and one of the most important contemporary public health issues. Every year, at least 10 million people around the world die from cancer, and an additional 20 million people are diagnosed with a new disease. In practical figures, this means that one in five people will develop cancer in their lifetime, while one in 11 men and one in eight women will die from it. Currently, 50 million people are living with cancer, and individuals have lived for more than five years are considered survivors.
In the structure of oncological diseases in women, breast cancer remains at the top, followed by colorectal cancer, lung cancer, cervical cancer, and thyroid cancer. But only cervical cancer can be completely eradicated from the lives of 21st-century women. And that is not a populist statement, but a truth based on research and knowledge, because only cervical cancer has a long pre-morbid (pre-cancerous) period, usually seven, 10 or 12 years with a possibility of being diagnosed and treated early. This window makes preventive action possible. It is a golden window, and we, in modern medicine, must know and utilise it correctly to eliminate this disease. Only two interventions are needed: vaccination against Human Papillomavirus and cervical screening of women aged 25+ years.
What are the specific challenges facing the Republic of Moldova in this area?
In modern medicine, many solutions have been developed to ensure high-quality medical services, beginning with data recording and analysis. Performance in healthcare relies heavily on accurate data, and without it, the medical process risks leading to more challenges than benefits. Information technologies in healthcare focus on improving data access and analysis, boosting performance, facilitating research and learning, and addressing human resource challenges. Unfortunately, the human resource crisis in the Republic of Moldova remains unresolved. This issue extends beyond the mere shortage of healthcare professionals. It also encompasses the quality of their work, their efficiency, and the alignment of their knowledge and skills with contemporary requirements.
The country is grappling with a shortage of medical staff, many of whom are inadequately qualified. Additionally, there is limited opportunity to offer proper training within the Research Institute for Mother and Child Health Care. Even when effective training is provided, staff often return to their clinical practices feeling uncertain about their skills. This creates a situation where further support is needed for medical professionals to gain confidence in their abilities when performing procedures.
RENAM, the Research and Educational Networking Association of Moldova, provided video conference capabilities across the national colposcopy network across the Republic of Moldova. RENAM is one of the five beneficiary partners of the of the EC funded EaPConnect Peroject.
Would you like to find out more? Read the full interview on the EaPConnect Project website.
