Prioritise cervical and breast cancers as national emergencies – Expert tells African leaders

Women’s cancers are emerging as one of the most urgent public health and economic challenges facing Africa. Only about 50 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Africa will survive for five years, while more than 90 percent survive in high-income countries, that’s according to data by the Africa Breast Cancer Council.

Speaking at the Africa Press Day event in Nairobi on March 4, Managing Trustee of the Africa Cancer Foundation, First Lady of Kisumu County, and member of the Africa Breast Cancer Council, Dorothy Nyong’o delivering a statement made a passionate call for governments to prioritize cervical and breast cancers as national emergencies.

According to her, cervical and breast cancer remain the leading cancers killing women across the continent, painting a grim picture of survival disparities between Africa and high-income countries.

“Only about 50 percent of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Africa will survive for five years, while more than 90 percent survive in high-income countries,” she said. “We have all seen how this is taking a terrible toll on families, communities and economies.”

Describing women as the backbone of society, she warned that cancers affecting women pose a direct threat not only to public health, but also to economic stability and social development.

“This is no longer only a moral issue, it is a strategic and economic issue deserving the full attention of governments,” she emphasized.

Her remarks echoed those made earlier by Principal Secretary for Medical Services, Dr. Ouma Oluga, who challenged African nations to rethink how they finance and structure their healthcare systems to better respond to rising cancer cases.

Nyong’o outlined key priority areas where funding must be directed. First, she called for greater investment in prevention and public awareness including education on lifestyle risk factors and the importance of routine check-ups.

Second, she stressed the need for widespread and accessible screening programs to promote early diagnosis. Late detection, she noted, remains one of the biggest barriers to survival in Kenya and across Africa.

“Too many women are being diagnosed late,” she said.

She also called for faster treatment pathways and stronger patient navigation systems, explaining that many women are lost along the treatment journey because they do not understand their diagnosis, where to seek care, or the urgency required.

In addition, Madam Nyong’o urged governments to expand access to innovative therapies and strengthen palliative care services, noting that delayed diagnosis and treatment ultimately lead to prolonged suffering and significantly higher healthcare costs.

Health experts at the forum underscored that sub-Saharan Africa continues to face shortages in oncology specialists, diagnostic equipment, and radiotherapy facilities challenges compounded by limited domestic health financing and shifting global donor priorities.

Kenya is currently pursuing Universal Health Coverage reforms aimed at expanding access to essential services, including cancer care. However, stakeholders at the event agreed that without increased domestic investment specifically targeting women’s cancers, progress may remain slow.

As Africa confronts a growing cancer burden, leaders gathered in Nairobi were urged to move beyond statistics and act decisively to protect the women who form the foundation of families, communities, and economies across the continent.

Source: 3news.com