The World Health Organization says over the past 20 years cancer cases have more than doubled in the African region from 338,000 cases reported in 2002 to almost 846,000 cases in 2020.

The regional director for the organization Dr Matshidiso Moeti has disclosed in her message on world cancer day which is commemorated on February 4 every year.

Dr Moeti cited breast,cervix and prostrate cancers as some of the most common forms of cancer.

The message also indicates that there is limited access to cancer screening, early detection ,diagnosis and treatment in many community in African countries.

“Looking ahead, the rising cancer burden will place additional pressures on resource-constrained health systems and on patients and their families who incur catastrophic costs to access services,” she said.

Only about 30% of African children diagnosed with cancer survive, compared to 80% of children in high-income economies.

The message also highlights that challenges in access to cancer care are further compounded in times of crisis, like the current COVID-19 pandemic.

“The African Region also bears the highest burden of cervical cancer among WHO regions, and so the World Health Assembly ’s adoption in 2020 of the Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem was of key relevance to African countries.

“As part of the first wave countries implementing this strategy, Eswatini, Guinea, Malawi, Rwanda, Uganda and Zambia are scaling-up comprehensive cervical cancer programmes.

“Finally, we all have a role to play in reducing stigma around cancer, improving understanding of this disease and encouraging people to seek early screening and care,” she said.