Closing the care gap in cancer care in Nigeria: time to move from commemoration to a coordinated action

Abstract

Background
Cancer, a major noncommunicable disease (NCD), is responsible for ill health, disability and death of a significant proportion of the population around the world. About 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths were estimated to occur in 2022 and, given the prevailing conditions, it is predicted that there will be more than 35 million new cases in 2050 - a 77% increase in less than three decades. The extant measures and services to cater to the victims of the disease, unfortunately, are grossly inadequate and cannot cope with the rapidly rising burden of the disease. 

Controlling the disease demands a holistic approach comprising four principal components: prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, and palliative care. The World Health Organization (WHO) in collaboration with other international and national organisations have developed several interventions aimed at stemming the rising tide of the disease alongside other NCDs. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative also sets a target of achieving a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs including cancer by 2030. Cancer control requires the contribution of all segments of the population – individuals, communities, corporate organisations and government at all levels.

One potent weapon for fighting cancer is awareness creation and public education about what needs to be done to address the different components of care for the disease. A global effort to create awareness about cancer is the observance of World Cancer Day (WCD) on the 4th of February annually. Since 2001 when the first WCD was commemorated, the day has assumed great significance with more countries and organisations joining the annual campaign to reduce the burden of the disease. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) has assumed the leadership of the global observance of the day, developing and rolling out a theme/slogan for each year thereby stimulating actions whose impact lasts the whole year, beyond the day itself. Recognising the yawning gap that exists worldwide in the care available and accessible by victims of the disease, “Close the care gap” was developed as a theme to run for three years (2022 – 2024) to ensure adequate attention was given to address the care element of the disease.

This article describes the focus for each year of the multi-year campaign, summarises the impact of the campaign, highlights Nigeria's involvement and ongoing efforts, and proposes further actions that need to be taken as the world and Nigeria in particular resolve to close the cancer care gap.