The Federal government of Somalia has stepped up the fight against cancer, following the rollout of an awareness program in the capital, Mogadishu.
The awareness programme is spearheaded by the Oasis Cancer Hospital based in Mogadishu.
According to the CEO, Dr Abdirahim Mohamed Ali the programme is timely because most people seek treatment only when cancer has advanced.
He said the program will help identify the disease early for diagnostics.
Abdirahim noted that poverty is another factor that has contributed highly to this, and the hospital aims at alleviating this.
"I was driven to open this hospital when I saw the alarming number of Somalis affected by this disease. One of the painful aspects is that most of these individuals seek health care only after the disease has reached a very advanced stage, which reduces their chances of recovery. We opened this hospital to help mitigate these challenges if it cannot completely resolve them.
"Our people, who are predominantly poor, are travelling from various regions of the country. Life is already challenging for them, and now they are being asked to pay tens of thousands of dollars for medical care abroad. We aim to alleviate this burden by offering awareness programs, modern screenings, and treatment," he said.
The event held on Friday was graced by leaders and Ministry of Health officials, doctors, experts with in-depth knowledge of cancer, and other organizations providing humanitarian assistance in Somalia.
The program focused on discussing the signs, causes, and preventive measures of cancer, aiming to provide the Somali community with a comprehensive understanding of this dangerous disease.
These discussions also centered around understanding the challenges related to its detection and treatment, and the steps that can be taken to reduce its risk to the community.
Oasis Cancer Hospital was founded by Abdirahim Ali after returning from London, to establish this hospital.
Cancer poses a significant threat to public health in Somalia, impacting thousands of lives and contributing to the overall disease burden in the country.
Recent studies indicate that cancer cases in Somalia are on the rise, with an estimated 10,000 new cases reported annually.
Breast cancer and cervical cancer are particularly prevalent among women, while men are often affected by liver and prostate cancers.
These alarming statistics highlight the urgent need for greater awareness and preventive measures within the community.
