Action Pack of Home Grown Solutions in Research, Advocacy and Policy critical in elimination of cancer.

-Early action, early treatment leads to cancer elimination.
-National Development Strategies in –line with SDGs play crucial role.
-Multi-Sectorial approach and budget allocation must be first priority.

By Nevison Mpofu

It has been researched qualitatively and quantitatively that 46 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have high cancer prevalence rates. It is pathetic to note that 10 million death incidences occur annually at a global scale. However it is knowledgeable to note that half of the figure is record breaking in Low- Middle- In-come countries [LMICs]. These countries spend 6% of their resources on cancer research, diagnosis, treatment, advocacy and policy.

Lack of surveillance, awareness, sensitization, advocacy, lack of knowledge and early treatment remains a challenge in many African countries. The reason why cancer becomes a serious health challenge is that 70% to 80% of its cancer patients are at late stage in terms of diagnosis and treatment.

Zimbabwe among 46 countries in Sub-Saharan-Africa remains close to the highest peg in terms of new cases and death. In 2020 the country recorded 16,083 new cases and 10,676 death cases. By now figures have increased .This information was released by International Agency for Research on Cancer [IARC]

Discussants and comment givers at a glance have spoken in dilated tones on issues related to cancer diagnosis and treatment, research, advocacy and policy. Zimbabwe First Lady Dr Auxilliah Mnangagwa during the month of October which globally is set for awareness made her quotation regarding early action and treatment buttressed by research, advocacy and policy.

‘’ Early action, early treatment. It is wise for mothers to be aware and sensitized about breast cancer. Mothers, let us remain vigilant. Let us go for early diagnosis. If we are found to have breast cancer, let’s take early action by seeking early treatment before the disease spreads to several parts of the body. This helps us to remain healthy as a nation.’’

Research on Cancer

Research on cancer in Zimbabwe according to Dr Eric Chokunonga Director of Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry has been the country’s first priority. Like other countries Zimbabwe has done a number of researches on different types of cancer to find out why these health challenges remain a menace..

‘’In developed countries cancer is 80% successfully treated and in developing countries it is 30% successfully treated. It is therefore crucial to take this into consideration and try by all means to reach out to successful treatment in bigger percentage. However, it is important to detect, diagnose and get treatment early before it spreads’’

‘’Research on cancer has touched on all age groups and treatment has been done to those found with cancer. However at a broader perspective, it is important to take a new look on health technology. Let us increase this idea in many hospitals and at the same time encourage early detection, diagnosis and treatment before it spreads’’.

‘’It is therefore crucial to do more researches , to up-date current health issues, educate communities and giving more health supportive information to those with challenges in getting health knowledge and financial support. Therefore the issue of health funding remains crucial so that we get more resources to get into broader health issues in communities.’’

Some types of cancers are a result of several factors which may be genetically and hereditarily originated. However, it has been studied more deeply in both qualitative and quantitative research that diets and sedentary life-styles are related to cause of cancer. This is ignited and increased by modernization, urbanization and globalization.

‘’We have done our researches as well. According to gathered information we have diets which have changed over years. At the same time sedentary life-styles lead as new factors related to urbanization and modern dynamic life-styles , urbanization and changing global life standards’’ he said in conclusion.
International Cancer Research Partnership [ICRP] has gone through 186 projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. These are in their data-base.

These projects were funded by 34 organizations in 7 countries. The continent, latest information reveals that Sub-Saharan Africa remains heavily impacted by breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, bladder, stomach and esophageal cancers. This has been learnt.
Global Cancer Observatory 2015 to 2020 gathered a lot of information related to cervical cancer, Kaposi sarcoma, prostate, breast cancer and Hodgkin Lymphoma as more debilitating.

According to the report, most projects were based on virally induced cancers. There are high prostate cancer cases. There-fore, there is high mortality burden in many countries.
Prostate cancer accounts 4% of PROJECTS > EIGHTY {8%] are cancer related death and 10% new cases. ICRP has identified research gaps.

This helps to inform future efforts. Further research reveals that countries in Sub-Saharan- Africa lack adequate resources, therefore treatment is difficult to procure and channel to these countries.

The report states that TREATMENT declined over the years while PREVENTION increased. Diagnosis and prognosis increased 15% to 29% respectively. However further deeper research bares all that future strategic investments in cancer remains totally crucial. Low Middle Income Countries will have record of 75% cancer related death. This is high among the working class.

Cancer diagnosis in Sub-Saharan Africa is usually delayed by the following …..
[1] Delayed patients presentation
[2] Weak health care infrastructure
[3] Limitation in specialist access and diagnostic capabilities
[4] Limited health care coverage through social and insurance plans
[5] Low treatment options, lack of in-come and medical services to access palliative and hospice

Cancer Advocacy…..
According to Doctor Douglas Mombeshora Minister of Health and Child Care in Zimbabwe, National Development Strategies in-line with Sustainable Development Goals remain important in cancer elimination. However, this is buttressed by wide research, policy and advocacy.

‘’National Development Strategies in-line with SDGs, Sustainable Development Goals remain important in the elimination of cancer. If we harness these together with policies and advocacy, calling for more interventions in communities, this will work out to eliminate cancer.’’

‘’Multi-Sectorial approach and budget allocation helps us as a nation to fight out cancer. As Government we shall roll out comprehensive programs for the elimination of cancer’’.
Public Awareness, sensitization and advocacy….

The above three words of action bring together communities to rope in some community development values like working together , collective action , sustainability and social justice in giving proper information about foods we eat that are industrially manufactured . Communities must be taught so as to gain knowledge regarding what foods are on the market, their type and effects they have.

A manufacturer with chain production of food variety in Southern Africa who declared not to be mentioned said manufacturers must reduce the effects by limiting some additives that may make foods become harmful to health. Governments must involve themselves in advocacy at global, regional and national levels.

‘’ Manufacturers need get involved together with Governments to educate communities through awareness, sensitization and advocacy. We need to do forums, pushing for legal instruments and aggressive policies which are heavily meant to eliminate all forms of bad practices done in the manufacturing of foods people eat. Off-course, foods are healthy, tested and allowed to flood markets but some are bad for our healthy as far as cancers are concerned’’. He said.

CANCER POLICY/IES……..

Experts have called Governments to call for policies which must go with certain measures, for example, labelling food products with different colors. One manufacturer called for RED and GREEN colors on containers and packets during packaging. Colors must identify products for example foods that are effectively negative to health must be labelled RED and the opposite that is healthy, good food must be labelled GREEN.

Cancer Policy and political -will.

Cancer must be connected to statutory instruments that make it free to test, diagnose and have free treatment. At the same time, it has been said that cancer screening that is voluntary makes it difficult to carry out researches on ground and find out the correct data which is needed by the state. Therefore policies may change everything for the best. World Health Organization [WHO] Report, World Health Assembly Resolution – WHA 70.12 on cancer carries the quote …..

‘’Governments must commit in accelerating action against cancer. They must formulate responses to National cancer burdens. This shows then cancer can be controlled as a public health priority by making strategic investments. It thus describes priority policies and programs in cancer control and evidence based interventions along cancer continuum. It sets agenda for accelerated action to achieve political commitments’’.

American Cancer Society [ACS] and Cancer Action Network [CAN] takes cancer as a public policy issue. Their advocacy calls treatment, insurance and screening as most vital in the treatment and total elimination of all forms of cancer. Cancer Action Network works with local, state and feudal officials to implement laws and increase funding for cancer prevention, early detection measures on which breast cancer and colorectal cancer screening programs. State investments in cancer research according to CAN remain crucial. At the same time they have gone long in pushing for laws which reduce exposure to second-hand smoke. They have encouraged smoking quitting and prevention of tobacco use as part of global solution.

*Nevison Mpofu is a versatile, multi-awarded winning Journalist @ global, regional and national level