Urgent action needed to reinforce breast cancer control in Africa

The World Health Organization is calling for urgent action to reinforce breast cancer control measures in sub-Saharan Africa, adding that without measures, an estimated 135,000 women could lose their lives to the disease by 2040.

In a report published on Tuesday, the UN agency said significant gaps and disparities exist in breast cancer control across the region, highlighting a critical shortage of healthcare workers essential for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.

This is in addition to limited access to specialized cancer centers, hindering progress toward the Global Breast Cancer Initiative goals.

The report, which focused on six critical areas: leadership, governance and financing, health workforce, health information systems, and service delivery, found that only five of the 47 assessed countries in the region have established organized breast cancer screening programmes with many countries still relying on opportunistic screening programmes.

The WHO said access to pathology in Africa remains limited, with only two countries meeting the standard of one lab per 100, 000 people.

The UN agency attributed breast cancer-related deaths in the region largely to late diagnosis and insufficient prevention and care measures.

In 2022 alone, 38 out of every 100,000 women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 19 per 100,000 tragically lost their lives to the disease.

The WHO is thus calling for urgent need for investment in leadership, governance and financing as fundamental steps, to enhance breast cancer care in the region.

"Strengthening these elements will pave the way for advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training and, most importantly, equitable access to essential services," the agency said.

The UN agency also urged countries to develop and adequately fund comprehensive National Cancer Control Plans, providing a strategic framework for coordinated national efforts to combat breast cancer effectively.

In 2011, the WHO launched the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, aiming to reduce global breast cancer mortality by 2.5 percent annually through 2040, with a goal of preventing 2.5 million deaths.

The initiative provides evidence-based guidelines structured around three critical pillars: health promotion, early diagnosis, comprehensive treatment including palliative care.

To guide countries in translating these pillars into actionable strategies, in 2023, WHO introduced an implementation framework.

"For countries to effectively implement these guidelines, it is crucial to understand their existing capacities, identify gaps, and explore feasible solutions," Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO regional director for Africa, said.

She said the regional assessment of breast cancer diagnosis and care access provides valuable insights into the current situation, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for improvement.

"The findings will serve as a foundation for targeted interventions, enabling countries and their technical and financial partners to collaboratively address barriers to quality cancer care," Moeti said.