THE Bank Windhoek Cancer Apple project has raised N$2 million in funds aimed towards the fight against cancer, through the Cancer Association of Namibia.
This was announced yesterday at the official handover of funds for the 2022 Bank Windhoek Cancer Apple Project in Windhoek.
Speaking at the event, Ministry of Health and Social Services acting deputy executive director Jeremia Nghipundjwa said cervical cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers in women worldwide.
He said it also remains the third most experienced cancer among women between 15 and 44 years of age.
“Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the virus that causes cervical cancer, and other anogenital cancers and high-risk HPV types are detected in 99% of cervical cancers,” he said.
He also added that the age-standardised incidence rate for Namibia is 37,4/100 000.
In addition, women living with HIV are six times more at risk of developing invasive cancer when compared to HIV-negative women, Nghipundjwa said.
“The high HIV prevalence rate among women 15 – 49 years old in Namibia places them at increased risk of developing cervical cancer,” Nghipundjwa said.
Speaking at the same event was Cancer Association of Namibia chief executive officer Rolf Hansen, who said cancer is a very costly disease.
“We need not only human hearts and able bodies, but dedicated trained professionals, equipment and facilities, as it is a very costly disease,” he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic, preceding drought and the current economic crisis in the country make it a very challenging disease as it places great pressure on the resources that are available, he said.
“And we see many patients who either cancel or decrease their medical aid, with only 55% of our greatly reduced annual budgeted income attained at 22 November at the Cancer Association and having already reached 70% of of our heavily slashed annual budgeted allowance of N$11 million, this is versus the N$20 million that we used to have in the past annually at 30 November,” Hansen said.
He said there are many kinds of cancer cases that are not detected and because of programmes that the association rolled out together with other key stakeholders, more people are becoming aware of this disease.