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Temnes rank highest in cancer report

2013 report collated at the National Cancer Registry on cancer in Sierra Leone indicates an increase in cancer cases among the Temne ethnic group in Sierra Leone than the other tribes. The National Cancer Registry was established in 2011 with the purpose of getting a database of the various cancer ailments in the country with Sierra Leone’s Pathologist, Dr. Semion Owizz Koroma, serving as Director of the Registry. “We cannot address the challenges of cancer in Sierra Leone without a cancer registry, and now that we have one, we are appealing for support for us to be able to know the different cases of cancer that are affecting the people and their demographic implication,” he said. According to the 2013 statistical data of the National Cancer Registry about people reported with cancer and other benign or malignant tumors: 50 percent are Temne, 30 percent Mende, 30 percent Creoles while Koronko, Susu and Mandingo are slated at five percent each. Unfortunately, there are no available data for the other tribes, but the Registrar of the National Cancer Registry, Michael Mansaray, said they will be extending their activities by collating data from various hospitals in the country. Dr. Owizz Koroma last year said cervical cancer is on the increase in the country as well as breast cancer. “Cancer is real in Sierra Leone. We must all come onboard to address the challenges that are the causes of cancer,” he said. Choitrams Hospital, Lumley Health Centre (Government), Rokupa Hospital, Kingharman Road Government Hospital, Macauley Street Government Hospital, Ola During Government Hospital (Government), Abarnita Hospital (Private), Sierra Leone Ports Authority Hospital (NGO) and Davidson Nicol Hospital (private) will be utilized by the National Cancer Registry for more information of cases of cancer in the country. The most common cases were breast cancer, tumor, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, Burkett lymphoma, prostate cancer, cancer of the cervix, mycosis and thyroid nodules. The report also indicated a high rate of female cases with only one percent of that of male. “We can do more if we have a digital microscope and microtone,” Mansaray said, adding that when the registry is capacitated they will be able to expand their services on a wider scale to capture the demographic prevalence of cancer and the causative factors are known the better it will be for doctors to be able to proffer cure. When contacted on the issues, Dr. Moses OM Sesay said the country needs support to be able to control cancer in the country. “Many people, especially in rural areas, are not reporting for medical checkups in hospitals,” he said, adding that many died without knowledge by their families of the cause of death. Dr. Sesay said there is so much that is needed by the registry and that efforts should be made by all stakeholders to make the registry more functional. The report, however, does not represent the whole population of the country, but patients that reported and were diagnosed at the Connaught Hospital in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

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