Marking World Cancer Day, the WHO warned that the disease is no longer a silent crisis on the continent but a rapidly growing emergency that is claiming lives largely because of unequal access to prevention, early diagnosis and effective treatment. The organisation said stronger political commitment and sustained domestic investment are essential to reverse current trends.
In a statement, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, urged countries to fully integrate cancer prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care into national development plans, health budgets, universal health coverage reforms and primary healthcare systems. He stressed that long-term progress would depend on resilient health systems backed by consistent financing and accountability.
According to WHO estimates, more than one million new cancer cases are diagnosed each year in the African region, with nearly one million deaths annually. Cancer is now among the leading causes of premature mortality, with outcomes driven less by a lack of medical solutions than by gaps in access to care.
The organisation noted that cancer places a heavy social and economic burden on households and health systems alike, often pushing families into financial hardship while undermining national productivity and development. People with the least access to early diagnosis, timely treatment and financial protection continue to face the greatest risks.
Despite these challenges, the WHO said there have been encouraging signs of progress. Several African countries have expanded HPV vaccination programmes, strengthened cervical cancer screening, improved access to childhood cancer care and begun integrating palliative care into routine health services over the past year.
However, the agency cautioned that significant gaps remain. Delayed diagnosis is still widespread, service disruptions continue to affect continuity of care, and shortages of specialised health workers limit treatment capacity. In many countries, access to radiotherapy, pathology services and essential cancer medicines remains extremely limited, while the high cost of care forces many families to choose between treatment and basic needs.
“Too often, a woman is screened but never treated. Too often, a child is diagnosed too late,” the WHO said, describing the situation as unacceptable and preventable.
The organisation said it would continue to support African countries through global initiatives such as the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer, the Global Breast Cancer Initiative and the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. However, it emphasised that these programmes must be fully embedded in national health systems and supported by sustainable financing to have lasting impact.
The WHO also called for increased investment in proven interventions, including HPV vaccination, high-quality screening tests, decentralised treatment of precancerous conditions, strengthened surgical, radiotherapy and pathology services, reliable access to essential cancer medicines and the early integration of palliative care.
“Africa can change the trajectory of cancer,” the organisation said, adding that success will require equity, resilient health systems and an unwavering commitment to ensure no one is left behind.