Maputo, 3 OCT (AIM) – Mozambique records 26,000 new cases of cancer every year and over 17,000 people die from the disease, according to data released by the Health Ministry.
According to Ivan Manhiça, MISAU Permanent Secretary, who was speaking on Thursday, in Maputo, at the National Meeting of the Cancer Control Programme, the most common types of cancer are cervical, breast, and prostate cancer, Kaposi’s sarcoma, pediatric cancer, and other forms of the disease associated with HIV/AIDS, which together account for approximately 60 per cent of registered cases.
“Recent studies reveal that cancer, accounting for eight per cent, is already the second leading cause of death in individuals between the ages of 15 and 49, and the leading cause in people over 50”, said Manhica.
Manhiça believes that lack of awareness of early signs as well as the lack of regular access to health services for screening are the main causes of late diagnosis. “The delay results in many deaths that could be avoided,” he said.
Around the world, 19 million new cancer cases and 10 million deaths were recorded in 2022. Projections point to an increase to 29.5 million new cases and 16.4 million deaths by 2024, with 70 per cent of these deaths occurring in low-income countries.
“Cancer is a public health problem with incidence and mortality rates that significantly affect low-income countries, where approximately 70 per cent of deaths occur. This disease is one of the greatest public health battles of our time. It is not just a clinical challenge, it is also a matter of equity, social justice, and human dignity”, he said.
“Every diagnosis is a story interrupted, every loss is a void in families, every survivor is a testament to hope”, he added.
Manhica guaranteed that the Ministry, in coordination with the Office of the First Lady and other partners, is strengthening screening programmes, health service capacity, medication availability, and family support networks, in order to improve diagnosis and treatment.
“In recent years, our government, with the support of partners, has been able to provide better diagnosis, treatment, and support to patients with this condition. Inequalities in access to early diagnosis, treatment gaps in certain regions, and the emotional and economic burden weighs on thousands of families”, he said.
Manhiça called for a strengthening of collective engagement to transform weaknesses into opportunities for action “in order to ensure that no citizen is left behind, regardless of their economic status or place of residence.”
“We must continue investing in research and innovation. The future of the fight against cancer will increasingly be determined by scientific knowledge, technology, and the ability to transform discoveries into accessible solutions”, he said.
(AIM)
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