Introduction: A Silent Crisis Gaining Volume
For decades, the narrative around Africa’s health priorities has centered on infectious diseases—HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis. These threats deservedly garnered global attention, funding, and infrastructure. But as the continent undergoes demographic and epidemiological shifts, non-communicable diseases (NCDs)—especially cancer—are emerging as a critical and growing crisis.
Cancer in Africa is no longer a looming threat of the future. It is a present and escalating reality. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that cancer cases in Africa will double by 2040, driven by aging populations, lifestyle changes, and persistent inequities in healthcare access. Yet, most African nations are still responding with fragile, fragmented efforts rather than with the systemic, sustainable responses needed to turn the tide.
This article explores how cancer control in Africa must evolve—from reactive measures to integrated, enduring systems of care. It unpacks the gaps, opportunities, and solutions for creating a resilient continent-wide cancer control framework.
1. The Current Landscape: A Patchwork Response to a Complex Problem
Rising Burden, Limited Preparedness
Cancer is now the second leading cause of death worldwide—but in Africa, the danger is uniquely acute. With over 1.1 million new cases and 700,000 deaths annually, the disease is being met with underfunded programs, poor infrastructure, and late-stage diagnoses.
Many African countries lack basic cancer registries, leaving policymakers without accurate data to make informed decisions. Only a handful have fully implemented national cancer control plans (NCCPs), and where they exist, they often lack funding, political backing, or integration into broader health systems.
Late Diagnosis and Limited Treatment
An estimated 80% of cancer cases in Africa are diagnosed at late stages, when treatment is less effective and more expensive. This is largely due to limited public awareness, weak primary care systems, and a lack of screening programs.
Treatment capacity is even more constrained. Radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery are often unavailable or inaccessible. A staggering number of African countries have no radiation therapy at all, and oncologists are in short supply—sometimes one doctor per several million people.
2. Why the Current Model Isn’t Working
Vertical Programming vs. Systemic Integration
Too often, cancer initiatives in Africa are donor-driven and disease-specific. These “vertical” programs may achieve short-term wins—such as cervical cancer screening campaigns—but they do little to strengthen the overall health system.
Without integration into universal health coverage (UHC) frameworks, such programs remain siloed, unsustainable, and susceptible to political or funding shifts.
Underinvestment in Prevention and Early Detection
Most cancer efforts focus on curative services, which are costly and complex. Yet, up to 40% of cancers are preventable, and many more are treatable if caught early. Africa has an opportunity to shift its focus toward prevention, awareness, and early intervention, which are more cost-effective and impactful in the long run.
3. Toward Sustainable Systems: A Framework for Transformation
To move from fragile efforts to sustainable cancer control, Africa must reimagine its strategy across several key dimensions.
A. Strong National Cancer Control Plans (NCCPs)
NCCPs must be:
- Evidence-based, drawing on local data from robust cancer registries
- Costed and funded, with clear implementation plans
- Integrated, not standalone, aligning with primary healthcare and NCD strategies
- Accountable, with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms
Countries like Rwanda and Kenya have demonstrated how strong NCCPs can drive policy coherence and international support.
B. Building Capacity at Every Level
- Workforce Development
- Train and retain oncologists, pathologists, nurses, radiotherapists
- Use telemedicine and regional centers of excellence to bridge gaps
- Infrastructure Investment
- Expand radiotherapy, diagnostics, pathology labs
- Utilize public-private partnerships (PPPs) for scaling access
- Supply Chain Strengthening
- Ensure availability of essential medicines and equipment
- Address issues of counterfeit drugs and erratic pricing
C. Community-Led Prevention and Awareness
- Engage community health workers to deliver cancer education
- Tailor messaging to local languages and cultures
- Promote risk reduction strategies: tobacco control, HPV vaccination, diet, physical activity
D. Data Systems and Cancer Registries
Only 1 in 5 African countries has a population-based cancer registry. Reliable data is essential for:
- Targeting high-risk populations
- Evaluating interventions
- Advocating for policy change and funding
Supporting local cancer registries—through WHO’s Global Initiative for Cancer Registry Development (GICR) and other partners—must be a top priority.
E. Financing and Health Policy Reform
Cancer care is financially catastrophic for many African families. Moving toward universal health coverage (UHC) is essential. Governments must:
- Include cancer services in national insurance schemes
- Regulate out-of-pocket costs
- Partner with global donors for catalytic funding, not permanent dependency
4. Innovation and Collaboration: Keys to Acceleration
Technology as a Force Multiplier
- Mobile health (mHealth) platforms can support awareness, appointment reminders, and follow-up care
- AI-powered diagnostics are being piloted to improve pathology and radiology accuracy
- Digital registries streamline patient tracking and service delivery
South-South and Regional Collaboration
Africa doesn’t have to import all solutions—it can build and share them. Regional partnerships such as the African Cancer Coalition (ACC) and African Medicines Agency (AMA) are helping harmonize treatment guidelines, drug regulation, and pooled procurement.
Pan-African cancer networks can accelerate progress and reduce duplication of efforts.
5. The Human Dimension: Cancer Survivors and Advocacy
An often-overlooked piece of cancer control is the voice of survivors and caregivers. Survivor-led advocacy groups are gaining momentum in Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda, and beyond. They are not only demanding better care but also reducing stigma and supporting patients emotionally and socially.
Policymakers must ensure that patients, families, and survivors are not just recipients of policy—but shapers of it.
Conclusion: From Fragile Hope to Durable Impact
Cancer is no longer a disease of affluence or a distant threat for Africa. It is here, and it is growing. But the continent is not powerless. Africa has the knowledge, talent, and increasingly, the political will to build sustainable systems for cancer control.
What’s needed now is vision and coordination. The solutions are not just in more money—but in smarter systems, stronger partnerships, and deeper local leadership.
By moving beyond fragile efforts—isolated, underfunded, and reactive—to durable, data-driven, people-centered systems, Africa can chart a new course. Not only for itself, but as a global model for how low- and middle-income countries can turn the tide against cancer with resilience, innovation, and equity.
Key Takeaways:
- Cancer is rising rapidly in Africa, yet most countries lack the infrastructure for effective control.
- Current efforts are fragmented and unsustainable; a shift to systemic, integrated strategies is critical.
- Sustainable cancer control requires robust data, community-based prevention, strong health systems, and regional collaboration.
- Survivors and local advocates must be part of the solution, helping humanize and shape cancer policy.
- Africa can lead with innovation and equity, building cancer control systems that serve both current and future generations.
