The WHO asserts that cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality in Africa, and according to GLOBOCAN forecasts, cancer deaths in 2015 was 60% higher than deaths from malaria. Without intervention, forecasts predict one million deaths by 2030, with 1.4 new cases reported. 

To date, there has been no published data on cancer in Sierra Leone, which is reflective of the trend across Africa where up to 2014, only 2% of the population was covered by cancer registries. To date, proxy data from neighbouring Guinea has been used to inform statistics on cancer prevalence in Sierra Leone. 

According to World Health Organization (WHO), 8.2 million people die each year from cancer, and in Sierra Leone, approximately 3,000 people develop cancer each year, with estimates of over 2,000 succumbing to the disease. These figures may be highly conservative. 

According to data collected by the Sierra Leone Cancer Registry between January-October 2016, 317 new cases were reported in Connaught Hospital, the majority of which were breast cancer cases. 

A significant proportion of these deaths could be prevented, however, like most developing countries, Sierra Leone faces significant challenges in tackling cancer including lack of funding, a coordinated national control programme and limited awareness at community level of cancer prevention.  

VIJI will continue to focus in efforts on the management and development of the Registry. We will do this by raising funds to support the training of Registry staff and medical personnel. Funds raised will also manage awareness raising campaigns as part of our cancer prevention strategy, in addition to supporting palliative care. 

Adequate prevention and treatment requires collaboration between the Government, the public and the private sectors.