Dr. Osahon Enabulele, President, CMA
By Anthony Maliki
The Commonwealth Medical Association (CMA) has decried the rising incidence of cancer in the Commonwealth of Nations with a clarion call on governments to integrate Cancer prevention and treatment services within their frameworks for Universal Health Coverage.
This call was made in a widely circulated broadcast by the President of the Commonwealth Medical Association, Dr. Osahon Enabulele, as part of CMA’s activities to mark the 2021 World Cancer Day.
In his broadcast, Dr. Enabulele stated that Cancer remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality globally, with about 12 persons dying every minute in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) of the world.
Identifying Cervical cancer as a major challenge in the Commonwealth, the CMA President disclosed that the Commonwealth of Nations accounts for about 40% share of the global cervical cancer incidence burden and 43% of the global cervical cancer mortality, and with 85% of deaths from cervical cancer occurring in the LMIC Countries.
He further stated that nearly half a million women in the Commonwealth of Nations were living with cervical cancer, with one woman dying from cervical cancer every 5mins. He therefore called for accelerated attention and action to stem the rising tide of Cervical cancer and other forms of cancers, particularly in LMIC countries.
Speaking further, Dr. Enabulele averred that the rising incidence and huge burden of cervical cancer was a reflection of social injustice and numerous other factors including poverty, and inequities in access to quality cancer care.
While calling for more altruistic action on the social determinants of health, the CMA President called for more intense advocacy and public enlightenment on the disease.
He particularly urged women of reproductive age group in the Commonwealth of Nations to adopt appropriate health-seeking behaviours and healthy lifestyle practices.
He also encouraged them to undergo regular health screening and to present early for treatment at the precancerous stages. He charged them to get vaccinated against cervical cancer.
The CMA President fervently called on the various governments in the Commonwealth to act more decisively to flatten the cervical cancer curve and to integrate cancer prevention and treatment services within their country frameworks for Universal health coverage and National Health Insurance Schemes, in ways that would create opportunities for improved access to quality healthcare and cancer services, including cancer preventive, curative and rehabilitative services.
