Cancer is curable if detected early

Nairobi; Kenya: Alarm must be raised now, before it is too late.

These are the words of Dr Matshidiso Moeti who feels that the burden of cancer in Africa is growing quickly and affecting the more productive population compared to the developed world.

Disease, disability and death greatly affect Africans, but she is more concerned that the mention of the word cancer within African communities or on the continent is synonymous with despair.

Even as she envisions a continent where sound policies drive investments in health systems so as preventive and treatment services for cancer can be made accessible to all, she challenges individuals and countries to openly discuss cancer.

In Africa, she says, cancer is a concealed public health crisis because of overriding factors such as poverty, rural-urban migration, and ironically high life expectancy which exposes more people to lifestyle diseases.

“New cancer cases are expected to increase as people live longer and adopt unhealthy lifestyles but this should not keep us from discussing a surge that is greatly affecting our loved ones,” Dr Moeti told Sunday Magazine.

She says that in Africa, cancer is increasingly affecting the younger population, as compared to Western countries.

CANCER HAS A YOUNGER FACE

The hardest hit are women, she says, and cervical cancer tops the list, followed by breast cancer.

Most cases among the men are cancer of the prostrate and the liver.

“For long, cancer in Africa has been faceless and hidden, with people suffering and dying away from the public gaze or knowledge due to stigma,” she says, and adds that this is changing and cancer now has a younger face.

“Compared to the developed economies, more young people are dying from cancer in Africa.”

Dr Moeti says that counseling is very important because the news that one has cancer can be very debilitating and the lack of psychological support only worsens a patient’s condition.

The situation is bad, but she sees some hope since there are efforts to create awareness; and the messages centred on screening are encouraging early detection, treatment and management.

SHARE EXPERIENCES

“It is really inspiring to see African cancer survivors sharing their experiences and joining the ranks of advocates for cancer prevention and control,” she notes.

“It is important for African countries to have ambassadors who raise cancer awareness and impress upon the importance of annual and regular health checks.”

She cites Senator Beth Mugo as a powerful advocate for cancer prevention and treatment.

In 2012, Mrs Mugo announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Together with the then health minister professor Anyang’ Nyong’o, who was being treated for prostate cancer, they lobbied for the establishment of cancer-proactive policies to make preventive and treatment of cancer affordable in Kenya for all.

Former President Mwai Kibaki assented to the Cancer Prevention Bill in the same year.

The Act seeks to increase access to cancer treatment and care by establishing a National Cancer Institute to encourage and secure establishment of hospitals, vocational treatment and care centres.

It also seeks for the decentralisation of cancer treatment facilities, and training of more oncologists.

Though Kenya is making steps at meeting the above provisions, Dr Moeti says it is important for countries to work fast to tame this disease which is threatening to wipe out Africa’s young, ambitious and productive population.

Dr Moeti, who is a candidate for the directorship of the World Health Organisation in Africa, has served in United Nations affiliates such as WHO, UNAIDS and UNICEF in various capacities.

Until 2011, was the Deputy Regional Director, WHO Regional Office for Africa.