Harmonizing Cancer Treatment Guidelines Workshop Opens in Addis

Addis Ababa ENA August 28/2019 A three-day workshop that discusses the harmonization of Cancer Treatment Guidelines for Sub-Saharan Africa opened here in Addis Ababa today.

In his keynote address to the workshop, Nigerian Health Minister and Chairman of African Cancer Coalition Initiative, Professor Issac Adewole said African Cancer Coalition is instrumental for implementing the guidelines along with training of an expanded group of cancer care providers with improving the availability of effective treatment for people with cancer in Africa.

The commitment and involvement of health leaders and experts from Africa has been the way to the success of the effort in improving the treatment and control of cancer diseases, he noted.

The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Harmonized Guidelines provide solutions to delivering cancer care in resource-constrained environments, Adewole stated.

Health Minister Dr. Amir Aman said on his part Ethiopia will work closely with African Cancer Coalition to control cancer in the region by expanding quality services and increasing the number of qualified experts of cancer.

Ethiopia is working on reducing cancer risk factors through passing strong resolutions, providing services and treatments like HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria, he added.

Among the measures taken by Ethiopia to prevent cancer, according to the minister, are the “recently passed regulatory proclamation on banning tobacco smoking in public places, transports and workplaces and banning of alcohol advertisement in any kind of media.”

Explaining the state of cancer in Africa, Dr. Susan Citonje Msadabwe from Chikuni Cancer Diseases Hospital said Africa experienced 534,000 deaths from cancer every year.

The most common types of cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa are breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and liver cancers, she added.

About 100 participants from different African countries and organizations are attending the workshop on the NCCN guidelines.

The African Cancer Coalition consists of more than 100 oncologists and other multidisciplinary cancer care physicians from over 30 hospitals, universities, and ministries of health in 13 Sub-Saharan African countries.