Upscaling of Patient Navigator Services in Botswana

The goal of this patient navigation project is to upscale a coordinated patient navigator system to ensure access to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. This will be achieved by working in close collaboration with health educations assistants, nurses, and medical officers, linking patients to primary and tertiary care.

– Duration: 2025-2027  

– Budget: 49,500 USD  

– Partner: Botswana Rutgers Partnership for Health

– Focus: a reduction in turnaround time from presentation to diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer (breast health awareness and clinical breast exam), and diagnosis (clinical assessment, diagnostic imaging, and staging, as well as breast cancer biopsy and pathology).

– Approach : Patient navigators will be upskilled for breast cancer patient care coordination : explaining the breast cancer diagnosis and treatment options – Identifying and resolving barriers to care -Clarifying supportive care services and options available to breast cancer patients -Linking  patients to specialist care and available community-based services

– Champion: Prof. Peter Vuylsteke