2025 World Cancer Day: Continuing The Fight Against Cancer in Ghana
The fourth of February is the day set aside every year to mark the global struggle against cancer. This day is known as World Cancer Day. Aside from marking the struggle against cancer this day also exists to raise awareness and promote education about cancer and the various forms that it takes as well as the threat it poses to people’s lives
It is no different in Ghana; World Cancer Day is also celebrated here even as the country struggles with cancer and its debilitating effects.
Per the Global Cancer Observatory Globocan report last published in 2022, Ghana has, on average, about 27,385 new cases of cancer reported per year. This is in contrast to the 17,944 people that die every year from cancer with about 63,764 prevalent cases over five years.
The most common form of cancer in Ghana amongst men and women is breast cancer and prostate cancer. These two forms of cancer are closely followed by liver cancer and cervical cancer which are rising alarmingly quickly.
These few stats on cancer paint a concerning picture and represent a challenge for the health community and the government to overcome.
Efforts by the Government to aid in the fight against cancer
In recent times, the government of Ghana, aided by NGOs and other stakeholders in the health community, has increased its efforts in the fight against cancer. The cornerstone of this effort has been public education on cancer. Its cause and effects, symptoms, and how to identify cancer, as well as seeking early treatment so that the patient stands a greater chance of beating the disease.
Although great headway has been made by the government through the Ministry of Health and other NGOs there still remain some challenges. Access to poor and rural areas still remains low due to transportation issues and bad roads, making it dangerous and difficult to get there. This makes it hard to provide regular screening and educate people on the need to adopt healthier lifestyle choices and eating habits. Also, the stigma surrounding medicines and regular checkups prevents people from seeking help early when they need it
The government NGOs and other community stakeholders need to come together and collaborate on a way to address any issues or hindrances that affect the provision of swift and prompt healthcare for cancer treatment.
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World Cancer Day serves as a reminder that the fight against Cancer is not yet over and continues and that due diligence and persistence are required to beat the disease and rid Ghana of cancer
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