The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that except adequate measures are taken, death from cancer in Africa may hit an all time high of 1 million by 2030.
In a statement marking the 2024 World Cancer Day (WCD), Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, underscored the importance of the call, lamenting that the alarming statistics, revealing that in 2022, the continent recorded approximately 882,882 new cancer cases, leading to around 573,653 deaths.
Moeti said this year’s theme: ‘Together, we challenge those in power,’ aptly encapsulates the worldwide call for leaders to prioritize and invest in cancer prevention and care.
“The cancer situation in Africa is disheartening. 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.
“If urgent measures are not taken, cancer mortality in the region is projected to reach about one million deaths per year by 2030. Also, 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.
Moeti, however commended the progress made in cancer prevention and care in our region.
“For instance, 17 countries have introduced high-performance-based screening tests in line with the WHO recommendations. Also, 28 of our Member States have introduced nationwide HPV vaccination to reach about 60% of the priority population targeted with HPV vaccination,” he said.
She insisted that the continent leaders must take responsibility 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.
“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,” she further said.
