Brazzaville, 4 February 2012 -- Adopting healthy life styles such as consumption of diets high in fruits and vegetables, avoiding tobacco use, as well as engaging in regular physical activity are essential to preventing or reducing the risk of cancer.

This is the thrust of the message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, to mark this year’s World Cancer Day, observed on 4 February under the theme “Together it is possible”.

In the message, released in Brazzaville today, Dr Sambo underscored the need for urgent preventive measures by individuals, organizations and government to reduce suffering and premature death from the disease.

“I urge Governments to implement strategies recommended by WHO for cancer prevention and control, the Brazzaville Declaration, the Moscow Declaration and the Political Declaration of the UN High-level meeting on NCDs so as to drastically reduce cancer burden in the Region,” he said.

It is projected that by 2030, Africa will bear some 1.6 million new cancer cases with 1.2 million deaths. The most common cancers in the Region are cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, prostate, Kaposi sarcoma and lymphomas (HIVAIDS-related cancers).

The Regional Director observed that scientific knowledge, gathered over many decades, indicates that at least one‐third of all cancer cases can be prevented. Prevention offers the most cost‐effective, long‐term strategy for the control of cancer.  He stated that healthy diets, particularly diets high in fruits and vegetables, may have a protective effect against many cancers.

He highlighted excessive consumption of red or preserved meat; use of tobacco products; the harmful use of alcohol, exposure to ultraviolet rays and harmful chemicals such as pesticides and asbestos as cancer risk factors that could be prevented. Other preventive measures that would contribute to reducing the risk of cancer include large scale vaccination against hepatitis B virus, Human papilloma virus and adequate treatment for chronic infections.

In addition to primary prevention measures such as avoiding contact with cancer-causing agents, early detection of the disease should be prioritized to increase the chances of successful treatment, he said.

Given the centrality of behavior change in cancer prevention and control efforts, the Regional Director called for national health systems to be oriented towards the promotion and support of healthy life-styles within the primary health care approach in order for people to make healthier choices and follow life-style patterns that foster good health.

Dr Sambo pledged WHO’s continued collaboration with regional and international development partners and other sectors to support countries.

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For more information, please contact:

Dr J.M. Dangou
Focal person for Cancer and Chronic Respiratory Diseases
Tel + 47241 39344 
Email: Dangouj [at] afro.who.int

Sam Ajibola
Communications, Advocacy and Media Unit
Tel + 47241 39378 
E-mail: Ajibolas [at] afro.who.int