Cancer could kill a million Africans each year by 2030 - WHO

The World Health Organization's regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, has said that cancer mortality could reach nearly one million deaths a year by 2030 if it doesn't. there are no urgent and daring interventions.

According to her, about 1.1 million new cases of cancer occur each year in Africa, with about 700,000 deaths.

She said so in a post to commemorate World Cancer Day 2023.

The PUNCH reports that World Cancer Day is an international day celebrated annually on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and encourage its prevention, detection and treatment. The theme for 2023 is "Bridging the Care Gap: Let's Unite Our Voices and Take Action".

Dr Moeti said: "The numbers speak for themselves. About 1.1 million new cases of cancer occur each year in Africa, with about 700,000 deaths. Data estimates show a dramatic increase in cancer mortality to nearly one million deaths per year by 2030, without urgent and bold interventions.

"We must remember that the most common cancers in adults are breast cancer (16.5%), cervix (13.1%), prostate (9.4%) , colorectal (6%) and liver (4.6%) cancers, contributing to nearly half of new cancer cases With significant data challenges, the incidence of childhood cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 56.3 per million population.

“Current projections show that Africa will account for almost 50% of the global burden of childhood cancer by 2050, which calls for rapid efforts to address this concern, as has been done for the girl from Rwanda."

She said, however, that 12 countries in the region have valid national cancer plans and WHO is supporting eleven more countries in developing or updating their national cancer plans aligned with global cancer initiatives associated with the presence of governance structures at the government level for the implementation of Cancer Plans.

She also said that the organization with the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Cancer Registry has launched three collaborating centers in Ivory Coast, Kenya and South Africa to facilitate capacity building local staff and improve data quality for effective decision-making. do.

“Countries like Ghana, Senegal, Zambia and Senegal have developed national treatment guidelines for childhood cancer. Twenty-five countries have developed and are using cancer guidelines. policy remains important to improve the cancer landscape. The inclusion of childhood cancer drugs in the national health insurance scheme in Ghana and Zambia is a good example. Such strategic action will contribute significantly to increasing survival rates of children with cancer in these countries.

"We are collaborating with Childhood Cancer International to develop and pilot mental health and psychosocial support guidelines for children in Burkina Faso. It is gratifying to note the steady increase in national introduction of HPV vaccination by 51% of countries in the region, although coverage remains a concern at 21%.

“Currently, 16 countries have introduced high-performance screening tests in line with WHO recommendations and plan to expand cervical cancer screening. The introduction of gynecological oncology fellowships for improved access to cervical cancer treatment services in Malawi and Zambia is commendable and innovative. »

She noted that despite the achievements, there are challenges such as low availability of population-based cancer registries; limited health promotion; insufficient access to primary prevention and early detection services; the scarcity of diagnostic facilities that lengthen the time for diagnosis and treatment.

“The provision of palliative care is rare in Africa, despite the great need for it. Africa has only 3% of the world's cancer treatment facilities, with radiotherapy available in only 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to very low survival rates.

"By uniting voices and action, we can fight cancer at the individual and community levels: choose healthy lifestyles, get vaccinated, and get routinely screened for preventable cancers. Parents have the responsibility ensure their eligible daughters receive HPV vaccines.

"I call on governments to develop and update national cancer plans, provide sustainable financing and invest in cancer registration. I encourage governments to integrate cancer care cancer in essential benefit packages and national health insurance systems It is also essential to ensure an adequate infrastructure for human resources, screening, diagnosis and treatment It is also necessary to expand the use of digital health and to set up relevant training for cancer personnel.

"Finally, cancer survivors can lend their voices as advocates for better cancer services. As people with lived experience, they should...