Rwanda launches 5-year National Cancer Control Plan

This Wednesday the ministry of health launched the National Cancer Control Plan for the next 5 years with the aim of reducing cancer morbidity and mortality.

Among the strategies includes sensitizing the population against smoking, drinking alcohol, fried foods, intake of sugar, promote exercising and vaccination. Dr. Uwinkindi Francois, Director of Cancer diseases Unit in Rwanda Biomedical Centre said that plans are underway to see that prostate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer can be detected at the health centers.  

"We have been conducting the tests but it was not perfected. But now we will be testing for the virus that causes cervical cancer and can be done at all health centers. We will also be conducting mammography and that’s through the mobile cancer screening van and from there we can recommend what next for the patients," he said. 

DR. Uwinkindi adds that the plan will cost about Rwf36 billion and will reduce cancer morbidity and mortality.  

"We want people to come for early testing today 60% of the citizens come late for testing and we are hoping that in the next 5 years this number reduces so that we are successful. When they are treated early we reduce the mortality rate," Uwikindi said 

In 2018 the number of new cancer patients stood at 10.704. And the world health organization says that 40% of the cancers can be prevented.