South African Cancer Alliance calls for improved knowledge

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The South African Cancer Alliance calls on South Africans to raise their collective voices in the name of improving general knowledge around cancer and dismissing misconceptions about the disease.

Cancer is the leading cause of death globally and the top killer among the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which are the major focus of the WHO and UN. The World Economic Forum held in Davos from 21-24 January had two sessions dedicated to the role of political, civic and business leaders role in turning the tide on cancer. These focused on choosing healthy lives; delivering early detection; achieving treatment for all and maximising quality of life.

South Africa's needs

For South Africa, this would mean:

• an increased focus on childhood cancer
  
• National Cancer Control Plan that makes provision for vaccination for HPV and HBV against cervical and liver cancers, early detection and screening for breast, cervical, oral and colorectal cancers and childhood cancers
  
• effective cancer surveillance
  
• equitable access to essential medicines and technologies
  
• effective implementation of palliative care policies

Thus far, South Africa has succeeded to make progress on:

• The HPV Vaccination programme for girls for between nine and twelve years since Mach 2014 although this does not form part of the national cervical cancer policy.
  
• HBV Vaccination as part of the routine childhood immunisation programme since 1995
  
• The Cancer Registration Regulation of 2011 makes provision for the compulsory registration of all cancer cases

The South African Cancer Alliance is working closely with the DoH and other role players to address the following priorities for effective cancer control in SA:

• The National Cancer Control Plan of 1998 is outdated and has been in process of updating since 2009. It currently contains no details pertaining to childhood cancer
  
• The cervical cancer screening policy has been in process of updating since 2009
  
• For breast cancer, the highest cancer killer of South African women, a breast health policy is urgently required to ensure equitable service delivery for all women
  
• Despite the cancer registration regulation, the completeness of the National Cancer Registry remains a challenge, evident by the last available report of 2008. The National Cancer Registry falls under the jurisdiction of the NHLS that is currently experiencing huge financial and management challenges
  
• Equitable access to essential medicines and technologies as well as palliative care for cancer patients across the nine provinces is not in place and often leads to patients not receiving treatment of palliation timeously, leading to unnecessary suffering of unrelieved pain and symptoms

Cancer stigma is well documented and a reality on our South African communities, affecting negatively its patients even further. People Living With Cancer a member organisation of Cancer Alliance will be launching a compelling video 'Unsilenced' for World Cancer Day on its website.
https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=7vLgUzAj2Q.

For more information, go to www.canceralliance.co.za.