The World Health Organization, WHO, is asking African leaders to strengthen cancer services, build capacity among health workers and implement a comprehensive surveillance system. This will help improve cancer care in the region.
The African regional director Matshidiso Moeti said asides covid-19 pandemic adversely affecting access to cancer care, people in Africa have limited access to cancer screening and early detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Moeti made this known in a statement to commemorate world cancer day with the theme ‘I am and I will’. She said the theme is aimed at reducing fear, increase understanding and behavioral change around cancer.
The statement revealed that cancer cases have more than doubled in the last 20 years, from 338,000 cases reported in 2002 to about 846,000 cases in 2020.
The most common is the cancer of the breast, cervix, prostate, bowel, colon, rectum, and liver cancer. The high-risk factors are the use of tobacco, alcohol, physical inactivity, being overweight, and exposure to harmful chemicals.
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Febuary 4 every year is set aside to mark world cancer day
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
