Africa’s growing cancer burden is taking centre stage, as health advocates push for urgent action to improve access to care and save lives across the continent.

At the launch of the Cancer Care Africa Foundation (CanCAF) in Accra, its Executive Director, Naomi Naa Oyoe Ohene Nti, highlighted the scale of the challenge, noting that the continent records over one million new cancer cases each year.

The event, held at the West Africa Genetic Medicine Centre on March 31, 2026, brought together stakeholders focused on improving cancer care across Ghana and beyond.

Ohene Nti, who was named the 2025 Ghanaian Nurse winner of the Aster Global Nursing Award, said the foundation’s mission is to ensure that no one is denied quality care because of where they live.

“Our vision is clear: no African, no Ghanaian should be denied quality cancer care because of where they live,” she said.

She explained that the foundation will focus on building capacity, raising awareness, influencing policy, and forming partnerships to improve prevention, early detection, treatment, and survivorship.

Painting a broader picture, she described Africa’s cancer burden as severe, with over 700,000 deaths recorded annually, despite the continent having access to less than 3 per cent of global oncology resources.

In Ghana alone, she revealed, more than 24,000 new cancer cases are recorded each year, with over 15,000 deaths recorded, figures she says demand coordinated national action.

As part of efforts to address the gap, CanCAF introduced its flagship Cancer Genetic Counselling Certificate Programme for oncology nurses.

The initiative is aimed at equipping health professionals with specialised skills in risk assessment, patient education, and personalised care.

“The context we face demands urgent action,” Ohene Nti said.

She called on the government, development partners, and other stakeholders to support efforts to strengthen cancer care systems across Africa.

NA/VPO

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