Morocco conference promotes cancer research and treatment

30/11/2007

In partnership with other Eastern Mediterranean countries, Morocco will begin work next year on a comprehensive programme to fight cancer, expand specialised care and ease the suffering of those afflicted.

By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 30/11/07

[contrelecaner.ma] Morocco's Health Ministry and the ALSC will begin by assessing the general situation of cancer in the country.

A regional initiative to combat cancer was launched after a conference led by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Lalla Salma Association Against Cancer (ALSC) in Marrakesh last week.

Consisting of non-governmental organisations, scientific groups and professional associations representing more than 15 countries, the Regional Alliance of NGOs of the Eastern Mediterranean Region for the Fight Against Cancer was created following the November 20-22 meeting. The alliance will co-ordinate regional efforts to support cancer sufferers and their families, to assist in training and research, and foster local and international initiatives to fight the illness.

Hussein Abdulrizaq Gezairy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said he hopes the planned regional alliance will lead to earlier diagnosis and reduced cancer rates. The WHO is calling upon all the countries in the region to make fighting cancer a national priority, he added.

As part of the regional effort, the Moroccan programme will begin in early 2008. The Health Ministry and the ALSC will assess the general situation of the disease in Morocco and formulate policy on training, awareness, medical treatment and early diagnosis.

"This initiative must keep abreast of the current situation on a national level, keeping in mind the [country’s] deficiencies in health service coverage, specialist doctors, hospitals and awareness," said ALSC Scientific Committee President Tahir Al-Aloui.

He noted that 1,200 cancer sufferers are treated annually in the kingdom's various hospitals, yet 30,000 people in Morocco – including more than 1,000 children – are diagnosed with cancer every year. Global statistics indicate that for those with access to medical care, the recovery rate is 80% for children and 65% for adults. Many people, however, cannot afford to pay for each stage of the expensive treatment.

The country also has a major lack of specialist establishments. There are only three public centres, in Rabat, Casablanca and Marrakesh, and just four more belonging to the private sector.

Each year, Morocco registers 101.7 new cancer cases for every 100,000 citizens. Breast cancer ranks number one, followed by lung cancer, cervical cancer and prostate cancer.