The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said that data estimates show a considerable increase in cancer mortality to nearly one million deaths per year by 2030 if there are no “urgent and bold interventions”.
WHO Regional Director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, disclosed this in a message to commemorate the 2023 World Cancer Day, noting that approximately 1.1 million new cancer cases occur each year in Africa, with about 700,000 deaths.
Ms Moeti noted that “cancer is a public health issue of major concern”, adding that the most common cancers in adults include breast (16.5 per cent), cervical (13.1 per cent), prostate (9.4 per cent), Colorectal (6 per cent), and liver (4.6 per cent) cancers, which contributed to nearly half of the new cancer cases.
