World Cancer Day 2025: A reminder for Cameroon to prioritize healthcare and not football
By Hans Ngala
Today is being commemorated as World Cancer Day, a day set aside by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) since the year 2000 to create awareness about cancer.
Cancer kills nearly 10 million people every year, while an estimated 25% of patients enter remission. These are staggering numbers that underline the importance of cancer awareness and healthcare investment in both prevention and treatment.
With the recent announcement by Donald Trump that his administration was freezing most foreign aid, it is a wake-up call for Cameroon’s government to sit up and take the reins of handling the cost of healthcare for its citizens and stop the over-reliance on foreign aid. Cameroonian authorities are notorious for investing billions of taxpayer money into managing Cameroon’s Football Federation (FECAFOOT), often while neglecting essential sectors like healthcare.
Many Cameroonian public hospitals do not have incubators for premature babies, IV lines, ultrasound machines, and other essential equipment, yet billions of CFA are funneled into the running of football affairs, which does not lift Cameroonians out of poverty. While the country is busy celebrating national football teams and organizing tournaments, its hospitals are struggling with the most basic healthcare needs. A set of premature triplets recently died at a hospital in Douala because the hospital did not have the incubators to sustain their lives.
Meanwhile, football is like a ‘god’ to Cameroonians. A stampede at a football stadium in Yaoundé during the African Nations Cup in January 2022 killed 8 people, leaving many injured and the nation in shock. This tragic event underscores the danger of prioritizing sport over the lives of the people who are suffering from preventable and treatable conditions such as cancer, malaria, and HIV.
In Cameroon, diseases like cancer, HIV, and malaria are much more than issues of national health; they are matters of life and death. These diseases affect thousands of Cameroonians every year, yet they are often overshadowed by the country’s obsession with football. While football is a beloved sport and a source of entertainment, it cannot be prioritized over health when people’s lives are at stake. It is deeply troubling that so much government focus is given to football, yet essential healthcare needs go unmet.
A prime example of the misallocation of resources is the luxury trips taken by President Paul Biya to the Intercontinental Hotel in Switzerland, costing millions of Francs CFA at a time when many Cameroonians cannot afford basic healthcare. These lavish trips underscore the disconnect between the leadership’s priorities and the realities faced by ordinary citizens. While President Biya indulges in high-end foreign travel, millions of Cameroonians suffer due to the lack of resources for cancer treatment, HIV care, and malaria prevention.
Early detection and treatment are vital in the fight against cancer, HIV, and malaria. For cancer, early screening and timely treatment can significantly improve survival rates. In the case of HIV, access to antiretroviral therapy helps people live long, healthy lives and reduces the risk of transmission.
Malaria, though preventable and treatable, still kills thousands of people in Cameroon annually, especially in rural areas. These conditions can often be managed with proper healthcare infrastructure, but Cameroon’s financial resources are often diverted to frivolous activities like football.
The freeze on most foreign aid by the Trump administration means that Cameroon will have to start depending on its own resources to address its healthcare crises. This makes it all the more urgent for the government to reconsider its priorities. Instead of pouring billions into the organization of football events and the management of FECAFOOT, funds should be directed toward improving healthcare services, building medical infrastructure, and ensuring that healthcare is accessible to everyone, not just the privileged few.
Another serious issue is the theft of funds meant for COVID-19 relief in 2022. The government of Cameroon allocated substantial funds to tackle the pandemic, but reports emerged of widespread corruption and embezzlement of these funds by government officials. To this day, an account has not been rendered to Cameroonians and the fact that the powers that be , stole the funds amid a life-threatening public health emergency, speaks volumes about the government’s disregard for the health of its citizens – an egregious misuse of public funds. These stolen funds could have been used to bolster the healthcare system, provide vaccines, improve hospitals, and fund health education campaigns. Instead, these funds ended up in the pockets of a few corrupt individuals, further exacerbating the country’s healthcare crisis.
Cervical cancer, which disproportionately affects women in Cameroon, is another area where the government has failed to make adequate progress. The Cameroon Baptist Convention (CBC) Health Services has been at the forefront of fighting this silent killer, providing early detection, treatment, and education to women across the country. Despite the commendable efforts of organizations like the CBC, the government should be doing more to support these initiatives. There is an urgent need for the government to invest in preventative care, early detection, and education about cervical cancer. Thousands of women die each year from this disease, many of whom could have been saved with early screening and better access to treatment.
The government of Cameroon must shift its focus from its obsession with football and luxury travel to healthcare. Diseases like cancer, HIV, and malaria are killing people every day, and it is essential for the government to prioritize healthcare infrastructure, early detection, and treatment. With foreign aid being frozen (or likely to be terminated altogether) by the Trump government, the burden of responsibility falls squarely on the shoulders of the Cameroonian government who must now make every single CFA Franc count.
The time for laissez faire is over because our lives are now in our own hands. The US will no longer dole out free money or aid to Cameroon. The stolen COVID-19 funds could have been used to address many of the country’s healthcare issues, but the lack of accountability has hindered progress. If Cameroon is to improve its healthcare system and save the lives of its people, the government must invest in health before sport, ensuring that essential services are accessible to all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable Cameroonians whose health and live never take center stage in government’s decision-making.
According to the health organization GEIMS, Common Signs and Symptoms of Cancer include:
Cancer symptoms can vary widely depending on the type and location of the cancer. While some symptoms may be specific, others can be general and easily overlooked. Recognising these warning signs early can lead to timely diagnosis and better outcomes.
• Unexplained Weight Loss: Sudden weight loss without changes in diet or exercise may indicate an underlying issue.
• Persistent Fatigue: Constant tiredness that doesn’t improve with rest.
• Changes in Skin: Yellowing (jaundice), darkening, or redness of the skin, and unusual moles or sores that don’t heal.
• Lumps or Swelling: Any new lump or thickening in areas such as the breast, neck, or armpits.
• Persistent Pain: Ongoing pain in areas such as the abdomen, back, or joints without an obvious cause.
• Changes in Bowel or Bladder Habits: Diarrhoea, constipation, blood in stools, or difficulty urinating.
• Unexplained Bleeding or Bruising: Blood in cough, vomit, stools, or urine.
• Chronic Cough or Hoarseness: A cough that doesn’t go away or persistent hoarseness can signal throat or lung cancer.
Healthy Lifestyle Choices for Cancer Prevention
Adopting a healthy lifestyle is one of the most effective ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer. While no single factor can guarantee prevention, making mindful choices in your daily habits can significantly lower your chances of developing this disease.
1. Avoid Tobacco Products
• Tobacco use is a leading cause of cancer, particularly lung, mouth, throat, and oesophageal cancers.
• Quitting smoking and avoiding second-hand smoke can drastically reduce your risk.
2. Maintain a Healthy Diet
• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins.
• Limit red meat, processed foods, and added sugars.
• Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol, as it increases the risk of liver, mouth, and throat cancers.
3. Stay Physically Active
• Regular exercise helps maintain a healthy weight, reducing the risk of cancers such as breast, colon, and endometrial cancer.
• Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity, such as walking or cycling, most days of the week.
4. Protect Yourself from UV Radiation
• Use sunscreen and protective clothing to reduce the risk of skin cancer.
• Avoid tanning beds and seek shade during peak sunlight hours.
5. Get Vaccinated
• Vaccines such as HPV and hepatitis B can prevent infections that increase the risk of cervical and liver cancers.
6. Reduce Stress and Prioritise Mental Health
• Chronic stress can indirectly affect your health by promoting unhealthy habits such as smoking or overeating.
• Practice relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or yoga to manage stress effectively.
7. Regular Screenings and Check-Ups
• Early detection through routine screenings, such as mammograms or colonoscopies, can diagnose cancers at treatable stages.
Available Treatments and Support for Cancer
Cancer treatment varies depending on the type, stage, and individual patient needs.
With advancements in medical science, many effective treatment options and support systems are now available to improve outcomes and quality of life.
1. Treatment Options
• Surgery: Surgery involves removing cancerous tumours and any affected tissue from the body. It is often the first treatment option for solid tumours that are detected in the early stages. For example, in breast cancer, a surgeon may remove the lump or, in more advanced cases, the entire breast (mastectomy) to stop the spread.
• Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy uses drugs to target and kill fast-growing cancer cells. These medications can be taken as pills, injected, or delivered intravenously. Sometimes, chemotherapy is used before surgery to shrink a tumour or after surgery to kill remaining cancer cells. It can also be combined with other treatments such as radiation or immunotherapy.
• Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams such as X-rays or protons to destroy cancer cells. It is often used to shrink tumours or reduce pain in advanced cancer cases. For example, in cervical cancer, targeted radiation can destroy cancer cells while minimising damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
• Immunotherapy: This treatment helps your immune system recognise and destroy cancer cells. Advanced forms of immunotherapy include checkpoint inhibitors, which remove the “brakes” from your immune cells, and CAR-T cell therapy, which involves modifying your immune cells in a lab to attack cancer.
• Targeted Therapy: Unlike treatments that attack all rapidly dividing cells, targeted therapy focuses on specific genes or proteins in cancer cells that allow them to grow. For instance, certain breast cancers can be treated with HER2-targeting drugs, which specifically attack cells with the HER2 protein.
• Hormone Therapy: Hormone-sensitive cancers, like certain types of breast and prostate cancers, can be treated by blocking the hormones (such as oestrogen or testosterone) that fuel their growth. Medications or surgical procedures may be used to reduce hormone levels.
• Stem Cell Transplants: Often used for blood cancers such as leukaemia and lymphoma, this procedure restores healthy blood-forming cells that were damaged by high doses of chemotherapy or radiation. Healthy stem cells can come from the patient (autologous transplant) or a donor (allogeneic transplant).
*Hans Ngala is a Cameroonian journalist who covers politics, religion and health. He freelances for several news outlets including The Gospel Coalition, Cameroon News Agency and has served as communications consultant for Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in Chad, researcher at the Media Foundation for West Africa in Ghana and communications officer for Mercy Ships in Madagascar. He holds an MA in Journalism and Media Studies from Wits University in Johannesburg.
