Dr Luis Sambo Calls for Healthy Lifestyle to Fight Cancer

On the occasion of the World Cancer Day  on 4^th February, the message of Dr. Luis Sambo, for adoption of healthy life styles such as consumption of diets high in fruits and vegetables, avoiding tobacco use, as well as engaging in regular physical activity as essentials to prevent or reduce the risk of cancer, holds true not only for the African people but for the entire globe.

                                                           

The message of the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo,  underscores the need for urgent preventive measures by individuals, organizations and governments to reduce suffering and premature death from the disease.

“I urge Governments to implement strategies recommended by WHO for cancer prevention and control, the Brazzaville Declaration, the Moscow Declaration and the Political Declaration of the UN High-level meeting on NCDs so as to drastically reduce cancer burden in the Region,” he said.

It is projected that by 2030, Africa will bear some 1.6 million new cancer cases with 1.2 million deaths. The most common cancers in the Region are cancers of the cervix, breast, liver, prostate, Kaposi sarcoma and lymphomas (HIVAIDS-related cancers).

The Regional Director observed that scientific knowledge, gathered over many decades, indicates that at least one‐third of all cancer cases can be prevented. Prevention offers the most cost‐effective, long‐term strategy for the control of cancer. He stated that healthy diets, particularly diets high in fruits and vegetables, may have a protective effect against many cancers.

He highlighted excessive consumption of red or preserved meat; use of tobacco products; the harmful use of alcohol, exposure to ultraviolet rays and harmful chemicals such as pesticides and asbestos as cancer risk factors that could be prevented. Other preventive measures that would contribute to reducing the risk of cancer include large scale vaccination against hepatitis B virus, Human papilloma virus and adequate treatment for chronic infections.

In addition to primary prevention measures such as avoiding contact with cancer-causing agents, early detection of the disease should be prioritized to increase the chances of successful treatment, he said.

Given the centrality of behavior change in cancer prevention and control efforts, the Regional Director called for national health systems to be oriented towards the promotion and support of healthy life-styles within the primary health care approach in order for people to make healthier choices and follow life-style patterns that foster good health.

On the occasion, Dr Sambo pledged WHO’s continued collaboration with regional and international development partners and other sectors to support countries.