Infographics

World Cancer Day 2024: Mauritius mobilizes to Close the Care Gap

Mauritius celebrated World Cancer Day 2024 against a backdrop of rising cancer cases, in line with global trends. In fact, the International Agency for the Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Health Organization (WHO) predict that new cases worldwide will increase by 50% annually over the next 15 years, and 77% by 2050.  This increase in cases is due to an aging population and the increased exposure to risk factors such tobacco, alcohol, unhealthy diets, pollution and insufficient physical exercise.  The main theme of World Cancer Days since 2022, namely Close the Care Gap, aims to mobilise the necessary attention and resources to ensure that the rising burden of cancer can be addressed in an equal manner across the globe and that all people in the world have access to systematic testing, and early diagnostic and treatment. Today unfortunately inequality of access lead to unequal cancer outcomes between developed and developing countries, this celebration advocates for such inequalities to be reduced in the coming years. During a ceremony to launch World Cancer Day 2024 organised by the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), the WHO representative (WR) in Mauritius, Dr Anne Ancia, provided a reminder of the global cancer toll. In 2022 alone, more than 20 million new cancer cases were detected across the globe, while 10 million people lost their lives to the disease. “Many of these fatalities could have prevented or at least delayed,” she explained.

Safeguarding the future of women and girls in Nigeria against cervical cancer

Abuja, 06 February, 2024 -  When 11-year-old Morenike Ayeni received the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (HPV), she became one of the millions of adolescent girls to get vaccinated against cervical cancer in Nigeria. 

“Hearing that the government was giving HPV vaccines to girls aged 9 to 14 years, I made sure my daughter got her shot to safeguard her future. “It is better to prevent diseases using vaccines than seeking cures or treatments”, Said Mrs Ayeni, a businesswoman residing in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory. 

WHO Zambia launches Cholera Assessment Mission in Central Province amid growing outb...

In response to the increasing number of cholera cases in Zambia’s Central Province, WHO Zambia has undertaken a crucial mission to assess the situation on the ground and map areas for immediate support.

On 15 December 2023, Central Province recorded its first cholera case in Mumbwa district. Since then, the province has witnessed a surge in cholera cases across ten districts, with Chibombo, Kabwe, and Mumbwa being high case-yielding districts. As of 04 February 2024, Central Province has recorded 1,146 cases with 36 deaths. Sixty-five percent of the deaths are community deaths.

Noma: a deadly Neglected Tropical Disease that should not exist

Sokoto, 31 January, 2024 - At age 6, Shamudeen Umaru’s (name changed) face was severely disfigured by noma, a life-threatening disease that primarily affects children under the age of 10. 

“The disease started suddenly with a toothache and within a few days, his face had been destroyed. This affected his eating and drinking because most of the food and water poured out from his mouth’’, said Shamudeen’s mother,  Fatima Umaru, from Munwadata, Lela Ward, Sokoto State, Northwest Nigeria.