The IAEA joined the call of Africa's First Ladies to improve access to cancer diagnosis and treatment across the continent. The call was embodied in a far-reaching declaration adopted at the 9th Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa conference held in Nairobi, Kenya this week. It called for strengthened partnerships and collaborations across the region and with a broad range of partners, including international organizations, to generate and implement innovative and sustainable solutions to halt and reverse the trends and burden of cervical, breast and prostate cancer in Africa. The IAEA’s Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) participated in the conference.
In a statement read on his behalf by PACT Director Nelly Enwerem-Bromson, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano expressed his support for the commitment of the African First Ladies, which draws noted attention to the growing cancer issue.
The Director General raised concerns over difficulties in finding support faced by Africans who have developed cancer. “We are all familiar with the dreadful statistics for cancer deaths in Africa. Behind these statistics lie millions of personal stories of grief and loss,” Mr Amano said. About 80 per cent of Africa’s one billion people currently have no access to radiotherapy, which is essential for treatment in at least 60 per cent of cases. He also reconfirmed IAEA’s commitment to continue its critical support.
Later speaking at the panel “Investing to Save Lives: The Role of Public-Private Sector Partnerships”, Ms Enwerem-Bromson highlighted opportunities for enhanced collaboration to mobilize additional resources and provide targeted support to African governments to take charge of their cancer programmes.
Expanding access to cancer care
The Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa conference is an influential event held each year and organized by the Forum of African First Ladies to expand access to early cancer screening, prevention, treatment and palliative care services across Africa. The Office of the First Lady of Kenya convened this year’s event together with the Princess Nikky Onyeri Breast Cancer Foundation, which is a driving force in raising key cancer issues and awareness across the continent and with Africa’s policy makers.
Kenya’s President, Uhuru Kenyatta, opened the Conference attended by over 3000 delegates and dignitaries, including twelve African First Ladies, several Ministers of Health, cancer care providers and advocates.
Kenya’s First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta, highlighted the gravity of the situation. “Seventy per cent of cancers in sub-Saharan are discovered at a time when the disease is at an advanced stage, when it’s too late for a cure," she said. “Cancer is an emerging public health problem that cannot be ignored. We must lobby our leaders, governments, private sector and non-government organizations to take the necessary action so that we can help our people live healthy and productive lives.”
By 2030, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO), it is anticipated that new cancer cases in Africa will increase to 1.4 million cases each year with one million people dying due to the disease. African countries face many challenges and are under-resourced and ill-equipped to deal with the growing cancer burden and its devastating impact.
Scaled-up investment in comprehensive cancer control is crucial to extending lives and positively impacting all levels of national health systems.
The IAEA has committed more than 267 million Euros in cancer-related efforts in the last three decades, much of which is going to Africa. In close collaboration with the WHO, and other international partners, the IAEA is supporting a large number of African countries through in-country assessments and expert missions, capacity building and training for cancer professionals, the provision of equipment for radiation medicine and the development of cancer-related partnerships.
Seventy per cent of cancers in sub-Saharan are discovered at a time when the disease is at an advanced stage, when it’s too late for a cure