Dep. Minister of Tourism Boost Cancer Advocacy in Sierra Leone

The Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Kadija O. Sesay, informed cancer stakeholders in Sierra Leone during a meeting held yesterday at the Connaught Hospital that nationwide campaign should be held for cancer awareness. The minister, after playing a vital role in the successful commemoration of ‘World Cancer Day on February 4, said she was happy to be a party to the campaign against cancer in the country, adding that cancer is no longer a silence in Sierra Leone. “Cancer is a worldwide ailment. None of us will say cancer hasn’t kill a friend or family member,” she said, adding that it has been killing people in the country because there were no facilities for diagnosis or medical attention. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Access to effective and affordable cancer treatments in developing countries, including for childhood cancers, would significantly reduce mortality, even in settings where health-care services are less well developed.

(L-R) Madam Kadija O. Sesay, Dr. Koroma and Mrs. Koroma The IARC report further states that the spiralling costs of the cancer burden are damaging the economies of even the richest countries and are way beyond the reach of developing countries, as well as placing impossible strains on health-care systems. “In 2010, the total annual economic cost of cancer was estimated to reach approximately US$ 1.16 trillion. Yet about half of all cancers could be avoided if current knowledge was adequately implemented…” the report states. Madam Sesay said this is reason why the National Cancer Registry should be supported to be able to provide the data for successful medical attention. “We have to push the process. We should be the donors and fundraisers to build the campaign against cancer in the country so that our people will know about the ailment and how they could better protect themselves,” she said. She said the commemoration of World Cancer Day created positive impacts on the lives of many and therefore efforts should now be made by all stakeholders to take the campaign to all parts of the country. “When we continue to create the awareness it will help change the attitude of our people,” she noted, adding that there is need for regional secretariats on cancer. “We should get more people involved in the campaign against cancer in Sierra Leone,” he said, reiterating that cancer doesn’t know age, wealth, tribe or colour. The Director of the National Cancer Registry, Dr. Semion Owiz Koroma, said cervical cancer has surpass breast cancer and that efforts should be made by stakeholders to raise the awareness throughout the country. He also thanked all the stakeholders for the successful commemoration of ‘World Cancer Day’ and implored them to continue the good work for a better Sierra Leone. “Having Madam Kadija O. Sesay as one of us is a good omen in our fight against cancer in the country,” he said. The IARC also states that based on the latest statistics on trends in cancer incidence and mortality worldwide, this new book reveals how the cancer burden is growing at an alarming pace and emphasizes the need for urgent implementation of efficient prevention strategies to curb the disease. “Despite exciting advances, this Report shows that we cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem,” states Dr Christopher Wild, Director of IARC and co-editor of the book. “More commitment to prevention and early detection is desperately needed in order to complement improved treatments and address the alarming rise in cancer burden globally,” it states, adding that in 2012, the worldwide burden of cancer rose to an estimated 14 million new cases per year, a figure expected to rise to 22 million annually within the next two decades. “Over the same period, cancer deaths are predicted to rise from an estimated 8.2 million annually to 13 million per year. Globally, in 2012 the most common cancers diagnosed were those of the lung (1.8 million cases, 13.0% of the total), breast (1.7 million, 11.9%), and large bowel (1.4 million, 9.7%). The most common causes of cancer death were cancers of the lung (1.6 million, 19.4% of the total), liver (0.8 million, 9.1%), and stomach (0.7 million, 8.8%),” said the report.