Cancer is no longer a looming threat for Africa, it is a present and growing crisis. With over 1.1 million new cases and more than 700,000 deaths annually, cancer now competes with infectious diseases as a leading cause of premature mortality on the continent. Despite the gravity of the situation, Africa’s responses have been fragmented, often donor-driven, and rarely sustainable.
To shift the tide, we must move beyond short-term interventions and begin investing in sustainable cancer control systems that are integrated into our national health frameworks, financed through domestic resources, and owned by the communities they serve.
The Reality We Face
The cancer burden in Africa is disproportionately high, and yet access to care remains a privilege rather than a right. Patients are often diagnosed at late stages due to limited screening and awareness. Radiotherapy machines are scarce, some countries have none at all. Oncology specialists are overwhelmed or altogether absent in rural areas. Palliative care is underdeveloped, and cancer registries are weak or nonexistent.
The result? A cycle of suffering, economic hardship, and preventable deaths that affects millions of families across the continent.
From Vertical Projects to Integrated Systems
For too long, cancer responses in Africa have been siloed. A donor funds a screening campaign here, another invests in chemotherapy provision there, but without systems in place to sustain these efforts, the impact dissipates once funding dries up.
True progress requires integration of cancer care into primary health care, universal health coverage (UHC) plans, and national development agendas. Cancer control must stop being seen as a luxury for high-income countries. It is a human rights and economic issue for Africa as well.
What We’re Learning from Nigeria
Nigeria’s journey toward stronger cancer control offers both cautionary tales and important lessons.
The country has a National Cancer Control Plan (2023–2027), renewed efforts around HPV vaccination, and improved stakeholder coordination. For instance, during the national HPV vaccination rollout, over 12 millions were girls vaccinated against HPV across Nigeria. This success was built on:
- Detailed microplanning
- Community engagement strategies
- Stakeholder coordination
- Data-driven monitoring and evaluation
Equally important is the rise of patient navigation systems, a people-centered approach that guides patients through the complexities of care, ensuring timely diagnosis, treatment access, and emotional support.
Cities as Drivers of Innovation
One of the most promising shifts in cancer control is the recognition of cities as powerful platforms for healthcare transformation.
Through initiatives like City Cancer Challenge (C/Can), cities such as Kigali, Kumasi, Nairobi, and Abuja are leading efforts to improve cancer care planning and implementation. These cities bring together diverse stakeholders, from ministries of health and hospitals to civil society and patients, to co-create solutions that reflect local needs and realities.
This city-level focus ensures that strategies are context-specific, actionable, and scalable across national health systems.
A Blueprint for Sustainable Cancer Control in Africa
To transform fragile efforts into robust systems, countries must:
- Prioritize cancer within national health plans and UHC strategies
- Develop and implement costed national cancer control plans
- Establish and strengthen population-based cancer registries
- Invest in workforce development across the cancer care continuum
- Integrate cancer prevention, screening, and early detection into PHC
- Build multisectoral partnerships with civil society, private sector, academia, and communities
- Secure domestic financing and reduce reliance on donor dependency
These steps must be backed by political will, accountability mechanisms, and community ownership.
From Crisis Response to Systemic Action
We are at a critical juncture. Africa can no longer afford to treat cancer control as a crisis response or a donor-driven priority. We must design sustainable, resilient, and equitable systems that put people at the center of care.
Sustainable cancer control is not about isolated programs. It’s about leadership, systems thinking, and bold investment in the future of our health systems.
