Yaoundé, 2 September 2008 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed a strategy to prevent and control cancer, 582 000 cases of which were recorded in the Region in 2002.

Cancer of the cervix, breast, liver and prostate as well as Kaposi’s sarcoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma are the most common forms of cancer in the African Region. Incidence of these cancers are projected to double by 2020 if effective interventions are not intensified.

The priority interventions outlined in the strategy include development of policies, legislation and regulations; mobilization and allocation of adequate resources; partnerships and coordination; training of health personnel; and acquisition of adequate infrastructure and equipment for primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.

Others are strategic information management and the undertaking of surveillance and research for cancer prevention and control.

Details of the strategy are contained in a report presented Tuesday by WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, to the fifty-eighth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa taking place in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Dr Sambo stated that current knowledge and evidence could be used to prevent one third of all cancers, provide effective treatment for another third, and provide pain relief and palliative care for all cases.

Principles that should guide the implementation of these interventions include country ownership and leadership; equity and accessibility of services; partnerships, team building and coordination; innovation, creativity and accountability; and a systematic and integrated step-by-step implementation of interventions as part of a national cancer action plan.

The main factors contributing to the increasing cases of cancer in the African Region are growing tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, environmental pollution and action of infectious agents.

Most cancer patients in the Region have no access to screening, early diagnosis, treatment or palliative care as the health systems of countries are not sufficiently equipped to provide cancer services.

For further information:

Technical contact:

Dr. Jean-Pierre Dangou

Tel: + 47 241 39344

E-mail: dangouj [at] afro.who.int (dangouj[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)

Media contact:

Samuel Ajibola

Tel : +47 241 39378

E-mail : ajibolas [at] afro.who.int (ajibolas[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)