Cancer diagnoses on the rise

The increasing incidence of cancer in Namibia is placing greater pressure on the healthcare system and the need for management structures to manage it.

In recent years, the incidence of cancer has increased by an average of 12%, with breast cancer and cervical cancer being the most common. One in five people will develop some form of cancer in their lifetime, and one in nine men and one in twelve women will die from cancer.

The shocking statistics were revealed during discussions on Namibia’s National Cancer Control Plan, where Minister of Health Dr Kalumbi Shangula stressed that no single agency can tackle cancer alone.

Although the Ministry of Health has the authority to lead the development of the plan, according to him, this requires collaboration with all sectors and actors. These include line ministries, health service providers, research and higher education institutions, non-governmental organizations, the private sector and international partners.

“Indeed, this is true for every Namibian, both those who have overcome cancer and those who are living with it,” he urged.

Sense of urgency

Shangula believes that when strategies such as control plans are developed and effectively implemented, Namibia can successfully fight the disease. He added that it is crucial to recognize the need for collaboration and partnership in this regard. “Collaboration must not be just talk. It must be the principle that guides our actions. It means working together to ensure that our interventions and policy directions are not only well-intentioned, but are effectively implemented.”

The plan must adapt to people’s realities and experiences and, according to the Minister, this means sharing resources, knowledge and expertise to build a strong and responsive healthcare system that can meet the unique cancer-related challenges facing Namibia.

He told the panellists to address the challenges with greater urgency. “Namibia needs a control programme that will enable the country to effectively prevent and address the impact of cancer on our society.”

Cancer control is also a key component of Namibia’s non-communicable disease strategy, which was launched in 2018. This is because it has a significant negative impact on public health, health system capacity and economic stability, he explained.

HPV vaccine

Meanwhile, it was revealed during the discussion that the Ministry of Health has sought Cabinet approval for a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine protects against HPV infection and protects against the two most common viruses that cause cervical cancer.

Namibia has developed a strategic plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030, while a technical committee has also reviewed national prevention guidelines to ensure they are in line with current global guidelines. According to Shangula, prevention services will be provided in existing primary health care settings.

Namibia will also gradually move from visual inspection of the uterus and cervical smear tests using acetic acid to DNA testing. The target groups are women aged 30 and women aged 25 who are living with HIV.

The scanning intervals were five years for people living with HIV and ten years for the general population.

HPV DNA testing will be launched in phases, targeting people at high risk of cervical cancer and HIV-positive women. Shangula said the goal is to reach 70% coverage by 2030, which is in line with global targets.

Namibia has also successfully introduced and scaled up the use of thermal ablation devices to treat precancerous lesions. Women aged 50 and over can receive thermal ablation treatment the same day after being scanned. Patients who test positive and cannot receive treatment due to lack of capacity or equipment are referred to the nearest health facility that offers these services.

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