Dr Commeh making a presentation at the workshop
Seventy percent of cancer deaths in Ghana could be prevented if healthy lifestyles are adopted and early detection is made, Dr Efua Commeh of the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Programme, Ghana Health Service (GHS), has stated.
Dr Commeh indicated that of the 16,000 new cancer cases recorded yearly in the country, more than 44 percent results in deaths.
“Data from the Ghana Health Service shows that 3052 cases of cervical cancer were recorded in 2015 out of which 1556 died, representing 51 percent, breast cancer also recorded 2260 cases with 1021 deaths, representing 45 percent, prostate cancer has 912 cases being recorded with 680 deaths, representing 75 percent.
Liver cancer had the highest fatality rate of 97 percent, claiming 1,856 lives out of 1923 cases recorded with 1,000 childhood cancers being recorded,” she said.
Dr Commeh said risk factors like increased life expectancy, pollutants, tobacco use, excessive use of alcohol and habits like physically inactive, poor diets low in fruits and vegetables may increase risk for cervical and breast cancer.
She said the country’s national strategy for cancer control in the country is to reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer by 30 percent through primary prevention, effective screening and early detection, document 50 percent of all cancer cases and establish a cancer registry to form the basis of delivering cost-effective interventions, for research and surveillance.
“Improve the quality of life for those with cancer and their family by 40 percent through support, rehabilitation and palliative care by improving service delivery across the continuum of cancer control through effective planning and co-ordination linked to improved resources,” she stated.
Dr Commeh was addressing media personnel at the final session of the Roche Media Academy themed: ‘Equipping The Ghanaians Journalist For The New Trends In Health Reporting’.
Dr Philip Anderson from Roche, taking the participants, mainly health reporters from the various media organisations through a presentation on NCDs, disclosed that NCDs are the leading cause of death in the world, responsible for 63 percent of deaths that occur in a year.
“The majority of these deaths – 36 million – were attributed to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases,” he said.
He further showed that nearly 80 percent of NCD deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries.
“NCDs are not only a health problem but a development challenge as well,” he said.
Dr Anderson indicated that millions of deaths can be prevented by stronger implementation of measures that exist today, including policies that promote government – wide action against NCDs, stronger anti-tobacco controls, promoting healthier diets, physical activity, reducing harmful use of alcohol and improving people’s access to essential healthcare.
By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri