By Iliya Kure, LOS ANGELES;
The World Health Organization (WHO) has projected that by 2050 Africa will account for about 50% of all childhood cancer burden globally.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti, made this known in a statement to commemorate this year’s World Cancer Day.
According to her, approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases occur each year in Africa, with about 700,000 deaths.
WHO data estimates show a considerable increase in cancer mortality to nearly one million deaths per year by 2030.
Highlighting on the 2023 theme, ‘Close the care gap: uniting our voices and taking action,’ Dr Moeti, calls for urgent political will to expand the needed cancer care on the continent.
“This year’s campaign summons like-minded people to be united as we build stronger alliances and new innovative collaborations in the fight against cancer. Cancer is a public health issue of major concern.
“We should recall that the most common cancers in adults include breast (16.5 per cent), cervical (13.1 per cent), prostate (9.4 per cent), Colorectal (6 per cent), and liver (4.6 per cent) cancers, contributing to nearly half of the new cancer cases.
“With significant data challenges, childhood cancer incidence in sub-Saharan Africa is estimated at 56.3 per million population.”