WHO Predicts over 30% Surge in Cancer Deaths in Africa

*Says 573,653 deaths recorded in 2022

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed concerns that in 20 years, cancer death rates in Africa may overtake the global average of 30 per cent.
It said  that if urgent measures are not taken, cancer mortality in the region is projected to reach about 1 million deaths per year by 2030.

The concerns were contained in the message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti to mark the World Cancer Day 2024.
Moeti said the cancer situation in Africa was disheartening, noting that in the year 2022, approximately 882, 882 new cancer cases occurred in the WHO African Region with around 573,653 deaths.

She also said that about 50 per cent 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 1 million deaths per year by 2030.
“Also, in 20 years, cancer death rates in Africa will overtake the global average of 30 per cent. This is more so because cancer survival rates in the WHO African region currently average 12 per cent, much lower than the average of over 80 per cent in high-income countries,” she said.

Moeti added that between 2022 and 2024, the focus of World Cancer Day will be to help close the cancer gap in the disease prevalence.
“This year marks the third and final year of the campaign. The theme for this year is “Together, we challenge those in power”. This theme encompasses the global demand for leaders to prioritise and invest in cancer prevention and care and to do more to achieve a just and cancer-free world.

“Nevertheless, we commend 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 per cent of the priority population targeted with HPV vaccination.

“This year’s theme is auspicious 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.

“We call on the region’s countries, communities, partners, and civil society to unite and foster universal access to cancer prevention and care.
“Stakeholders must identify feasible priorities, implement evidence-based population-wide interventions and invest in cancer control,” she emphasised.

In addition, she advised that countries should use the updated ‘WHO Best Buys’ , the facilitative tool designed to enable governments to select lifesaving policies and interventions for non-communicable diseases.
Also, Moeti urged leaders responsible for ensuring cancer prevention and care to deploy technologies and therapies that are available at low cost to  affected persons and their families.