The Women Coalition Against Cancer (WOCACA) has commended efforts by the National Cancer Centre to eliminate colorectal cancer amidst shortage of human resources and equipment at the facility.

WOCACA Executive Director Maud Mwakasungula at the Blue Hat Bow Tie Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month event held at the National Cancer Centre in Lilongwe on Monday,said that he has observed that the facility is working hard to deal with colorectal cancer, which has become another emerging public health concern Malawi.

Mwakasungula asked the government of Malawi and its stakeholders to invest more in cancer screening infrastructure and programs, enabling early diagnosis and better treatment outcomes.

The rising cases of colorectal cancer incidence is a clear evidence that the country needs to increase awareness, early detection, and effective management strategies” said Mwakasungula.

Mwakasungula said the barriers is mostly due to late diagnoses, limited screening programs, insufficient healthcare facilities to access mostly in rural areas, and pervasive lack of awareness.

March is recognized globally as Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and WACACA, in collaboration with Global Colon Cancer Association (GCCA), have been amplifying efforts in educating, advocating, and build awareness on the burden of Colorectal Cancer (CRC), a leading health concern not only globally but also in Africa, and including Malawi.

Mwakasungula added that colorectal cancer stands as a challenge in public health, claiming its place as the third most common type of cancer worldwide.

She further explained that in Africa, the situation mirrors the global emergency, with CRC now ranking as the fourth most common cancer. In 2019, Africa saw approximately 58,000 new cases and around 49,000 deaths due to CRC. These figures not only highlight the growing burden but also the critical need for effective prevention, screening, and treatment interventions, especially in regions where resources are scarce.

Every Monday the facility register three to four colorectal cancer cases said Barbara Basikolo, A clinician at the National Cancer Centre.

Lifestyle-related factors such as diets high in processed meats and low in fruits and vegetables, sedentary lifestyles, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol  consumption as some of the factors driving the spread of colorectal cancer.

Barbara added that Malawi needs to have adequate human resource and equipment to conduct regular screening, especially for those over 50 years old, which is crucial for early detection and prevention. Understanding and addressing risk factors for CRC is key in curbing its prevalence.

Mwakasungula has reiterated her organization’s commitment to fighting cancer by advocating for effective prevention, early detection, and treatment strategies.

Source:Nyasatimes

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