Since recent decades, cancer is becoming more common and one of the public health burdens in Ethiopia. According to various studies conducted on cancer, the country’s annual cancer incidence is increasing rapidly from year to year due to various reasons including poor public awareness regarding cancer, change in lifestyle, unhealthy food and consumer goods markets, consumption of alcohol and tobacco as well as failure to conduct checkups on a regular basis among others. And cancer deaths in Ethiopia are rising alarmingly. Worse than this, for the reason that most of the patients visit health facilities after the diseases get to advanced stages, it is lowering their survival rates and escalating the number of deaths in cancer.
A study carried out a year ago indicated that the country’s annual cancer incidence is estimated to be around 60,960 cases, with an annual mortality of over 44,000. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Ethiopia, accounting for 30.2 percent of all cases, followed by cervical (13.4 percent) and colorectal cancers (5.7 percent).
Surprisingly, even if some are preventable and at the same time curable if detected at early stage, such as breast cancer and cervical cancer, cancer has keeping on causing deaths and impacting the health, wellbeing and productivity of the society as a whole negatively.
Despite the activities exerted to strengthen cancer control efforts and lessen the burden of cancer incidence in the country through raising the awareness and knowledge of the public towards the significance of prevention, early detection, and follow up, the case is becoming one of leading causes of death.
To address the challenges and minimize the health burden of cancer and cancer related deaths, Ethiopia has developed a National Cancer Control Plan in 2015 and has put in place policies, strategies as well as programs to do away the impacts through collaboration. These days, though not enough, several activities that target to treat, control and restrain deaths due to cancer, including radiation therapy, are provided in limited health institutions.
As part of this effort, recently, Hawassa University has inaugurated a cancer treating center built at a cost of one billion Birr, yet another latest inclusion to the health center it is running.
The medical facility was inaugurated in the presence of Health State Minister Dereje Dhuguma (MD), Deputy President of Sidama State Beyene Barasa, President of Hawassa University Ayano Berasso (PhD), University’s community and concerned bodies.
The facility comprises cancer radiation therapy center, forensic and toxicology monitoring, model pharmacy, psychiatry treatment center, pediatrics and intensive care services.
Expanding facilities for cancer radiation therapy in Ethiopia and intensive care services are vital as the cost of travelling abroad to get treatment is unbearable.
According to sources, the cancer burden in Ethiopia is significant and; of its more than 100 million populations, estimated to be nearly 80000 people were diagnosed with cancer in 2022 and 55000 people died.
All cancer patients require access to diagnostic imaging services to inform their course of treatment, and approximately 50 percent need access to radiation therapy, however, currently only possible to give this service at three public hospitals in the country. Waiting times are long, and most patients only seek medical help when their cancer is already advanced, reducing their chances of survival.
Understanding this predicament, the federal government has made a policy change and made a strategic plan six years ago in order to give due emphasis and combat cancer through decentralizing chemotherapy and radiotherapy services across the country.
Hawassa Cancer Treatment Center is the fourth in Ethiopia after Jimma, Harar and Addis Ababa, and it is said to be another latest move to provide treatment to cancer patients from all over the country.
Meanwhile, it was learned that on May 8th, 2024 Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital treated the first cancer patient with radiotherapy. Hawassa is one of the 6 cities that will provide radiotherapy facilities to cancer patients in Ethiopia, and now the 4th (after Addis Ababa, Jimma, Harar) treating patients.
In an exclusive interview with The Ethiopian Herald, Yetsehay Mengesha Memorial Medium Clinic Medical Director Abdu Gudisa (MD) said that expanding cancer treatment centers is crucial because they provide specialized care, cutting-edge treatments, and support services tailored to individuals battling with cancer.
“We have been working for the past ten years in advocacy activities to create an informed society about cancer and providing clinical services in Yeka Sub City.”
Early detection is vital in controlling cancer, but following the poor culture of the society to conduct checkup, many patients come to health facilities after all stages of cancer symptoms are surfaced. This culture should be changed. In this regard, the media and the health professionals have double responsibility, he underlined.
Responding to the importance of cancer center establishment in higher education in various parts of Ethiopia, he said, it is clear that centers could bring together multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care, including diagnosis, treatment and emotional support for patients and their family members.
According to him, there is high progress in the health sector in many ways but because of the strain of budget and other challenges to provide quality healthcare services, especially for diseases like cancer, bringing the desire outcomes remains unachievable.
By leveraging the intellectual capital and research capabilities, these institutions can contribute to the development of innovative treatment modalities, early detection methods, and provide affordable healthcare solutions tailored to the country’s needs, he opined.
He also urged respective higher education institutions to follow the footsteps of Hawassa University. “In my view, it is imperative for Ethiopia’s higher learning institutions to recognize their pivotal role in prioritizing the establishment of cancer treatment facilities and forging partnership with relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, philanthropic organizations and international partners. Bringing these all together can make tangible differences in the lives of millions of Ethiopians affected by cancer.”
What is more, Ethiopia stands at a critical juncture in its healthcare journey, and the establishment of cancer treatment facilities within higher learning institutions represents a significant step forward in advancing cancer control efforts nationwide.
Through harnessing their academic expertise, research capabilities and commitment to social impact, these institutions should beef up efforts to contribute to a future where all Ethiopians get access to high-quality cancer treatment and support services.
“In my view, it is the ideal time to act now and the benefit will be felt for the generation to come,” he added.
BY MENGISTEAB TESHOME
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 14 JUNE 2024
