Perspective of an advocate - Political advocacy in African cancer dialogue

Abstract

The burden of cancer is climbing in all of Africa, yet the continent's healthcare and political systems have not prioritized cancer control and treatment-care. Sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to have a greater than 85% increase in the burden of cancer by 2030. However, African communities have little or no knowledge of cancer. As a result, many patients present with advanced disease at first consultation leading to poor outcomes. A focused approach needs to be adopted to address this growing public health threat. Robust engagement by patients and persons affected by cancer is needed to exert pressure on key public healthcare influencers especially, clinicians, researchers, political leaders and public health policy-makers to prioritize the disease and to ease the massive human suffering caused by cancer morbidities and mortalities. © 2013 Asante-Shongwe; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.