Health
Cancer Death’ll Rise To About One Million Annually By 2030–WHO
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said if urgent measures are not taken, cancer mortality in the African region is projected to reach about one million deaths per year by 2030.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti stated this in a message to mark the year 2024 world Cancer Day which is marked on the 4th of February every year, and aimed at uniting the wprks to raise awareness on fundamental cancer issues.
The cancer situation in Africa according to Moeti is disheartening. This is as he said, ” In the year 2022, approximately 882 882 new cancer cases occurred in the WHO African Region with around 573 653 deaths.
“About 50% of new cancer cases in adults in the region are due to breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers”.
He also said in 20 years, cancer death rates in Africa will overtake the global average of 30%. This is more so because cancer survival rates in the WHO African region currently average 12%, much lower than the average of over 80% in High-Income Countries.
Speaking on the year 2024 theme, Moeti noted that between 2022 and 2024, the focus of World Cancer Day is to help close the cancer gap. Adding that whilethis year marks the third and final year of the campaign. The theme for this year “Together, we challenge those in power” encompasses the global demand for leaders to prioritize and invest in cancer prevention and care and to do more to achieve a just and cancer-free world.
Commending the progress made in cancer prevention and care in the African region, through the introduction of high-performance-based screening tests in line with the WHO recommendations in 17 countries, just as 28 of Member States have introduced nationwide HPV vaccination to reach about 60% of the priority population targeted with HPV vaccination.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, point out the auspicious nature of the year theme as it reinforces all persons and groups’ universal right to health.
“We believe that regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, age, and gender, every person must be afforded an equal chance at the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer”.
He therefore call on the region’s countries, communities, partners, and civil society to unite and foster universal access to cancer prevention and care. While urging stakeholders to identify feasible priorities, implement evidence-based population-wide interventions and invest in cancer control.
“Countries should use the updated WHO Best Buys , the facilitative tool designed to enable governments to select lifesaving policies and interventions for noncommunicable diseases.
“Leaders are responsible for ensuring that cancer prevention and care deploy technologies and therapies that are available at low cost to affected persons and their families, which are value for money. Furthermore, countries should strengthen information systems to gather quality data for decision-making.
“We reiterate that civil society, especially organizations of cancer survivors or persons with lived cancer experiences, are critical in the fight against cancer in Africa. Such a whole-of-society approach to cancer prevention and care is the essence of this year’s World Cancer Day theme.
“Together, we challenge those in power” to go the extra mile for a cancer-free Africa”.
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