World Cancer Day: WHO says one million Africans may die yearly by 2030

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the data estimates show a reasonable increase cancer deaths to almost one million deaths per year by 2030 if there is no “important and bold intervention”.

The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, announced this in a message to mark the anniversary 2023 World Cancer Daynoted that approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases occur annually in Africa, with approximately 700,000 deaths.

Ms Moeti noted that “cancer is a public health problem of major concern”, adding that the most common cancers in adults include breast (16.5 per cent), cervical (13.1 per cent), prostate (9.4 per cent), colorectal (6 percent). cent), and liver (4.6 percent) cancer, which accounts for almost half of new cancer cases.

With significant data challenges, he added that the incidence of childhood cancer in sub-Saharan Africa is approximately 56.3 per million inhabitants and current projections show that Africa will account for almost 50 percent of the global childhood cancer burden by 2050.

World Cancer Day is an international day marked every year on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and encourage prevention, detection, and treatment.

The 2023 theme is “Closing the Care Gap: Uniting Our Voices and Taking Action.”

African achievement, response

The WHO Director highlighted the major achievements that Africa has made at the country level with the support of WHO.

He said that 12 countries in the region have valid National Cancer Control Plans and WHO is supporting 11 additional countries to develop or update their own “in line with global cancer initiatives coupled with the existence of governance structures at the government level to implement Cancer Plans”.

“Countries such as Ghana, Senegal and Zambia have developed National Treatment Guidelines for childhood cancer while 12 countries have developed and adopted cancer guidelines. Political will remains essential to improve the cancer landscape.

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“The inclusion of children’s cancer drugs in the National Health Insurance Scheme in Ghana and Zambia is a good example. These strategic actions will contribute significantly to increasing the survival rate for children with cancer in these countries,” he said.

Ms Moeti added that WHO Africa is working with Childhood Cancer International to develop and pilot Mental Health and Psychosocial Support guidelines for children in Burkina Faso.

“It is very pleasing to note the increase in national HPV vaccination with 51 percent of countries in the region, although the coverage remains at 21 percent. Currently, 16 countries have introduced screening tests based on high performance in line with WHO recommendations and plans to expand cervical cancer screening,” added they.

Challenge

Ms Moeti commended the introduction of gynecological oncology fellowships in Malawi and Zambia for better access to cervical cancer treatment services.

He added that, in collaboration with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on cancer registration, WHO launched three collaboration centers in Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya, and South Africa that will facilitate capacity building for local staff and effectively improve the quality of data. make a decision.

Despite these achievements, Ms Moeti said there were still “stumbling blocks in our way”, noting that Africa has only 3 per cent of cancer treatment facilities in the world, with radiotherapy available in only 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to low survival rates. very less.

He said these challenges include the availability of Population-Based Cancer Registries; limited health promotion, inadequate access to primary prevention and early detection services; lack of diagnostic facilities which increases the delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Prevail

Ms Moeti added that by combining voice and action, cancer can be tackled at the individual and community level by choosing a healthy lifestyle, getting vaccinated, and getting screened regularly against preventable cancers.

“I ask the Government to develop/update the national cancer control plan, provide sustainable funding and invest in cancer registration. I ask the Government to integrate cancer treatment into the package of essential benefits and the national health insurance system.

“It is also important to ensure adequate infrastructure for human resources, screening, diagnostics, and treatment. There is also a need to expand the use of digital health and create appropriate training for the cancer workforce.

“Finally, cancer survivors can give their voice as advocates for better cancer services. As people with life experience, they should be involved in planning cancer services at all levels of health care,” he said.