The First Lady, Jeannette Kagame has implored global leaders to shun complacency in the fight against rising cancer incidences, but rather confront healthcare systems' failure in providing equitable treatment.
She was addressing the World Leaders’ Cancer Summit that brought together health professionals, policy strategists, influencers, researchers and advocates, to discuss ways to further global cancer control, on October 16.
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She observed that incidence and survival disparities depict the world as one that considers cancer screening, accurate diagnostics and access to advanced care, as privileges of a select few, noting that no race, gender, or economic status should ever own the exclusive right to basic human empathy, whether in policy or in medicine.
"We must confront the dynamics behind the failures of our healthcare systems, that perpetuate such inequalities.”
In 2020, about 40 percent (equivalent to four million) of cancer-related deaths could have been avoided, by implementing effective cancer prevention strategies, which are attainable across all continents, including in low-income countries.
Mrs. Kagame urged the leaders to question themselves about how many lives must be lost, before global cooperation, finally, yields victory against cancer, whether it will take universal access to healthcare and the promotion of healthy lifestyles, systematic mass screening and controlled pricing for cancer medication, or increased research funding and more representative access to clinical trials.
Rwanda believes that access to cancer care should be granted, regardless of geography, gender, age or economic ability, she said.
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For instance, she pointed to the 93 percent vaccination coverage of young girls against cervical cancer since the inception of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine in 2011.
The efforts that were followed by the establishment of Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence which provides integrated diagnostic, therapeutic, and palliative care services to cancer patients from Rwanda and beyond, as well as the Rwanda Cancer Center at the Military Hospital that offers comprehensive care including diagnosis, surgical oncology, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Mentioning the newly launched IRCAD Africa, the First Lady said it is poised to become Africa’s largest hub for medical training and research in minimally invasive surgery and digestive cancer research and thus, propelling medical research in Africa to new heights.
"TunyweLess” campaign
Globalization has brought about new consumption habits, and harmful exposure, which include pollution, binging on junk foods, lack of adequate physical activity, abuse of addictive substances, among other things.
In a bid to address these harmful practices, she noted that Rwanda launched several campaigns to curb substance abuse, with the most recent dubbed "#TunyweLess” (translated drink less).
She added that national campaigns also encourage more exercise through carfree days, and reconfiguration of infrastructure to include sports tracks and safe walkways.
Furthermore, she indicated that the introduction of tax-free hybrid vehicles and a conservation park with nature trails allows for the control of pollution, as we edge our way towards a carbon-free ecosystem.
"We hope that these efforts, and others, will have a lasting generational impact, in protecting the health of our citizens; encouraging them to preserve their own; and sensitizing them to keep our environment healthy and clean.”