WHO bids to address inequalities at the heart of global breast cancer threat

Each year, more than 2.3 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer, making it the most common type of cancer in the world, affecting all adults. WHO.

While a limited number of high-income countries have been able to reduce breast cancer deaths by 40 percent since 1990, one of the major challenges for women in poorer countries is timely diagnosis.

“Survival in breast cancer 50 percent or less in many low- and middle-income countries,” WHO Dr Bente Mikkelsen told reporters in Geneva. But bet”over 90 percent for those who can receive the best possible care in high-income countries,” she stressed.

Tedros: priority everywhere

To address this disparity and coincide with World Cancer Day on 4 February, the UN agency Global Breast Cancer Initiative tends to reduce mortality from breast cancer by 2.5% per year.

“Countries with weaker health systems are the least able to cope with the growing burden of breast cancer. This places a huge burden on individuals, families, communities, health systems and economies, so this should be a priority for ministries of health and governments around the world,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO.

“We have the tools and know-how to prevent breast cancer and save lives. WHO supports more than 70 countries, especially low- and middle-income countries, in detect breast cancer earlier, diagnose it faster, treat it better and give everyone with breast cancer hope for a cancer-free future.”

In frame

To meet the needs of specific countries and provide guidance to governments, the structure of the initiative three pillars: promotion of health control measures to encourage early detection; timely diagnosis and treatment with effective methods.

By 2040, more than three million cases and one million deaths per year are expected worldwide. Approximately 75% of these deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.

“We really can’t avoid breast cancer if we’re going to fight cancer. countries,” said Dr Ben Anderson, Medical Officer, WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative.

“This is the most common cancer among men and women combined, it is the most likely reason a woman will die from cancer worldwide. it is the most common cancer among women in 86 percent of countriesand it’s the number one or two cause of cancer deaths in 95 percent of the countries, so having a foundation to build on in the coming years is an important starting point.”

In 95 per cent of countries, breast cancer is the first or second leading cause of cancer death among women.

However, Nearly 80 percent of breast and cervical cancer deaths occur in low- and middle-income countriesAccording to WHO.