The 7th edition of the Euro Africa congress on cancer has organised in Yaoundé with focus on cancer in Women and Children. The three day event to raise awareness on cancer was launched by the Minister of Public Health, Andre Mama Fouda.

Experts from Europe and Africa are shedding light on the different types of cancers particularly breast and cervical cancers that are increasing affecting women of all ages in the Cameroon.

Statistics from the Minister of Public Health indicates that 65% of all cancer patients diagnosed are women and the majority suffer from breast or cervical cancer.

So far, 25000 Cameroonians live with the disease and about 8000 die from cancer related infections annually. Reports also indicate that 14000 new cases of cancer are diagnosed every year while.

Minister Andre Mama Fouda said government’s policy is to prevent and effective treat cancer and as a preventive measure, some fourteen thousand girls between the ages of nine and sixteen years have been vaccinated against some forms of cancer within the last two years.

With regards to diagnosis and treatment, the Minister of Public Health indicated that all regional capitals have been equipped to diagnose and provide essential treatment of cancer.

Professor Paul Ndom President of the 7th National Conference on Cancer noted that cancer is a public health problem in Africa and women are most exposed the cancers.

The cancer experts at the event called on government to opened specialised cancer treatment centres in order to reduce late diagnosis and provide specialised care to patients. They also advised the population to live healthy lifestyles as only 5% of cancer infections are genetically linked while the environmental factors and mode of live are responsible for the rest of the infections.