NEWS

For Immediate Release - November 2011

On the occasion of its biennial international conference, the African Organization for Research and Training in Africa (AORTIC) announces the Dakar Declaration for Cancer Control.  This Declaration provides guidance in cancer advocacy, cancer care, cancer education, and cancer research. 

AORTIC presents this declaration with the knowledge of the 700,000 new cases of cancer diagnosed in Africa per year with over 500,000 deaths recorded annually.  The number of cancer cases is expected to rise to over 1.3 million by 2030.  Approximately 75 – 90 % of individuals who are diagnosed with cancer die of the disease.  These figures are significantly more favorable in Europe, where 30 – 50% of individuals with cancer die of their disease.  These unfavorable statistics in Africa are caused by limited cancer resources in Africa.  For example, there is on average only 1 radiotherapy machine per 5 million people in Africa (in some countries this figure reaches 1 per 60 million), compared to 5 per million in Europe, a 25 – fold difference.  At least 15 countries in Africa have no access to any form of anti-cancer therapies at all.  Even where treatment is available, Africans with cancer tend to present with late stage disease because of limited cancer screening and prevention.  As a result, cancer treatment or cure is impossible.

“That there is a general lack of awareness among communities, the health care profession and health care authorities about cancer in Africa” said Professor Isaac Adewole, Vice Chancellor at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria and the current President of AORTIC.  “African health care systems are not poised to address the cancer problem”.

On this backdrop, AORTIC presents the Dakar Declaration under the slogan “Working together to prevent, control and care for cancer in Africa”.  The AORTIC initiative will support, integrate and facilitate evidence-based interventions and innovative programs towards the prevention and control of cancer in Africa.  The Dakar Declaration recognizes the urgent need to develop National Cancer Control Programs, and to partner with national and international agencies.  A number of agencies were present at the recent Dakar meeting, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the US National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Women and Health Alliance (WAHA), the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research (INCTR), and others.

Prof. Lynette Denny of Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa and AORTIC General Secretary stated “the Dakar Declaration provides a framework for all aspects of cancer care and management, and increased awareness of cancer among health professional, the media, government, and the public”.  This awareness will include relevant and accurate information on the prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and palliation of cancer, and reduce the stigma associated with cancer.  “We need to ensure that cancer is on the African Health Care Agenda”, says Prof. Denny. 

The Dakar Declaration prioritizes key cancers such as breast, cervix, prostate and tobacco-related cancers, with special emphasis on childhood cancers, infectious/HIV/AIDs related malignancies and lympho-proliferative disorders. In particular, the Declaration will develop innovative strategies on three levels of the cancer continuum:
1) prevention and early detection of cancer and will ensure access to low-cost anti-cancer therapies, which are country and region specific;
2) cancer care in priority areas such as: pathology services and the use of telemedicine; diagnostic services such as radiology; clinical services including gynaecological, medical and surgical oncology;
and
3) palliative care initiatives.