The Dominican Republic’s national cancer screening initiative, ChequéateRD, has achieved a significant milestone by conducting 124,000 screenings since its inception in 2021. The program, which focuses on the early detection of breast, cervical, and prostate cancers, is set to continue its operations through September 2025. This collaborative effort between the National Health Service (SNS) and the First Lady’s Office has been instrumental in providing free diagnostic and preventive services nationwide. Utilizing a network of 13 prioritized hospitals and 512 mobile health campaigns, ChequéateRD has successfully delivered critical medical care to underserved communities. At the program’s fourth-anniversary celebration, First Lady Raquel Arbaje reaffirmed her dedication to expanding the initiative, emphasizing its mission to bring life-saving opportunities to those in greatest need. Dr. Mario Lama, Director of the SNS, underscored the program’s success in reducing cancer mortality, noting that early detection through mammography can identify breast cancer up to two years before it becomes palpable. To date, the program has screened 89,153 women and 34,603 men, with 354 cancer diagnoses confirmed via biopsy and 276 patients currently receiving treatment, highlighting the program’s crucial role in timely intervention.
ChequéateRD’ program reaches 124,000 cancer screenings in four years
