Reduce enabling environment for cancer, WHO urges African govts

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised stakeholders particularly African governments at all levels to create an environment that reduce their citizens risk factors to cancer.

WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, gave the advice yesterday in her message to commemorate this year’s World Cancer Day.

She said African governments should reduce risk factors such as alcohol and tobacco use and also ensure that citizens maintain good levels of physical activity, healthy bodyweight, and good nutrition.

Dr Moeti whose speech was read by the Office in Charge of WHO Nigeria, Dr Clement Peter said cancer prevention and the creation of a culture of health was an essential mission of government, and beyond that of the traditional health-focused departments like health ministries.

She said: “Stakeholders should address the current inadequate access to cancer diagnostics and therapies, the lack of knowledge on cancer and low health literacy levels, culturally inappropriate cancer prevention materials, mistrust of the health care system, and fatalism regarding cancer cure.

“I encourage individuals to engage in and adopt healthy lifestyle habits. Behavioural activities, such as eating a proper diet, both in the type and amount of food, engaging in appropriate exercise and physical activity, and receiving appropriate clinical interventions to prevent cancer, are important.”

She added that for Africa to remain healthy there was need for vaccination against cancer, such as liver and cervical cancers, avoiding known causes of cancer, and careful management of exposure to other carcinogens.

The WHO Africa regional boss said new cases and deaths from cancer continue to rise, and that in 2018 there were 18.1 million new cases and 9.6 million deaths from cancer.

She said that if current trends are maintained, the cancer burden in Africa is projected to double from 1,055,172 new cancer cases in 2018 to 2,123,245 cancer cases by 2040.

“Among the most important serious challenges facing cancer patients in most African countries are poverty, late and poor cancer diagnosis and lack of medical cover,” she added.