Executive Summary

Brazil has launched an oral cancer awareness campaign, backed by a R$1.3bn (US$540m) investment plan that will see around 300 oral health centres built in 2005 to improve early diagnosis of the disease. There are currently 137 Centres for Odontological Specialties (Centros de Especialidades Odontologicas) in 22 of the country's 27 states. Under the Brasil Sorridente ("Smiling Brazil") programme, launched in July 2004, the health ministry is planning to have 400 such centres operational by the end of this year, in a bid to stem the significant rise in cases of oral cancer. In 2003, new diagnoses totalled 10,635 - this number is expected to rise to 13,880 in 2005, according to the national cancer institute (INCA).