World Cancer Day

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that cancer cases would rise by 81 percent in low- and middle-income countries by 2040 because of a lack of investment in prevention and care. The WHO pointed out that one in five people worldwide would face a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime.

"If people have access to primary care and referral systems then cancer can be detected early, treated effectively and cured. Cancer should not be a death sentence for anyone, anywhere,"  Ren Minghui, a WHO assistant director general said.

More than 90 percent of high-income countries reported that treatment services for cancer were available in their public health system in 2019 compared with less than 15 percent of low-income countries, the report said.

"At least seven million lives could be saved over the next decade by identifying the most appropriate science for each country situation, by basing strong cancer responses on universal health coverage, and by mobilising different stakeholders to work together," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the WHO, was quoted as saying.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/treatment-afghans-struggle-cope-cancer-200204081013954.html