Africa-Press – Malawi. The Ministry of Health has revealed that cancer is contributing to 50 percent of premature deaths in Malawi. MNDOLO— Cancers contribute to 50 percent of the premature deathsPrincipal Secretary for Health Samson Mndolo says, in a statement released ahead of Cancer Day— which falls on February 4— that cancer remains a global burden, especially in low and middle-income countries.
“Globally, more than 19 million new cancer cases and approximately over 10 million deaths are recorded each year. Most of these deaths occur in low and middle-income countries, which contribute more than 75 percent of the total global cancer burden.
“In Malawi, cancers contribute to 50 percent of the premature deaths due to non-communicable diseases. The commonest cancers include cervical cancer (21 percent), Kaposi’s sarcoma (21 percent), esophageal cancer (9 percent), breast cancer (8 percent). non- Hodgkins lymphoma (7 percent) among the top five malignancies in Malawi,” Mndolo says.
The ministry has, therefore, warned that, apart from genetic predisposition, tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and air pollution are among some of the modifiable risk factors for most of the cancers and other non-communicable diseases.
“In addition, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus (HPV), hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and Epstein- Barr virus attribute to 13 percent of the cancers diagnosed globally,” he says.
Mndolo says to mitigate the burden of cancer, the Ministry of Health has intensified preventive measures through routine vaccination against Human Papilloma virus (HPV) among girls aged nine years, the provision of hepatitis vaccine to people at risk, screening services for cervical and breast cancer in health facilities, male medical circumcision, universal access to antiretroviral therapy, treatment and follow-up care for patients living with cancer.
Meanwhile, Malawi Health Equity Network Executive Director George Jobe has described the numbers as alarming.” “This requires completion of construction works at our cancer centre. We were told that it would be completed in February this year and this must be done,” Jobe said. This year’s activity will be commemorated under the theme ‘Close the Care Gap’, which is a continuation of the 2023 theme.
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