By Kemo Cham
Early detection of cancer diseases offers a higher chance of survival, Sierra Leonean Oncologist Dr Kelfala Marah says, as he calls on the public to nurture a habit of regular screening.
Dr Marah, a cancer diseases specialist attached to the country’s main referral hospital – Connaught – says detection of cancerous cells early not only offers more treatment options but also increases the chance of achieving successful treatment for patients. He was speaking to ManoReporters as part of activities commemorating World Cancer Day 2026.
World Cancer Day is commemorated every 4th of February as part of global efforts to promote awareness about risk factors and identifying early symptoms of cancer. It also seeks to encourage preventive health behaviour, such as healthy lifestyle choices and regular screening for prompt detection. Efforts on World Cancer Day are also geared towards fighting stigma and misinformation around what is one of the most common forms of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) globally.
This year’s theme for World Cancer Day commemoration is: “United by Unique, and it places people at the center of cancer care, say campaigners.
The World Health Organization (WHO)’s cancer agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in its latest estimates published in 2024 indicates a growing burden of cancer globally. According to the data, as of 2022, there were an estimated 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths. The estimated number of people who were alive within 5 years following a cancer diagnosis was 53.5 million, it shows, indicating that about 1 in 5 people develop cancer in their lifetime, and approximately 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women dying from the disease.
The WHO data also shows that developing countries bear the brunt of the disease, yet they also realise the least investment in cancer and palliative care services.
Lack of comprehensive data on cancer prevalence is a reflection of these issues in Sierra Leone, says Dr Marah.
Data shared by the Health Ministry on Tuesday indicates over 5,000 cases of cancer were recorded between 2015 and 2026. Majority of these – 3,156 – were female. And breast and prostate cancers make up most of the reported cases, according to the data.
Health officials say the actually number of cancer cases is likely to be highly underestimated, due to lack of regular screening and testing.
Dr Marah is one of just a few cancer specialists in the country which lacks advance treatment infrastructure. He tells ManoReporters that unchecked lifestyle is among the leading fuelling factors of cancers in the country.
“Cancer is largely a neglected area in this country, and this means that most people get diagnosed in late stage, leaving them with very little treatment options,” he says.
However, the last few years has witnessed increased political commitments towards NCDs, especially cancers in Sierra Leone. Focus has particularly been on breast and cervical cancers, two of the most prevalent and deadliest among women in the country. Cervical cancer has notably seen investment in screening and vaccination increased substantially.
As of the end of last year, cervical cancer screening had been extended to at least one facility in all 16 districts of the country, according to the MoH, noting that a total of 25 functional screening sites now exist nationwide.
The ministry has says more than 34,000 women have been reached with services since 2022.
But observers say public awareness has been lacking to get more people make use of available services.
Also, the government hasn’t matched words with actions in some aspects, notably a promise to establish a national cancer diagnostic center. President Julius Maada Bio in 2019 promised to established a National Diagnostic and Radiotherapy Cancer Center with the goal of enhancing local cancer care, diagnosis, and treatment. Seven years later, there is hardly anything to show for it. But officials insist that work on it is in progress.
Dr Abdul Jalloh, Director of Mental Health and Non-Communicable Diseases in the Ministry of Health, said all is set on paper and that some physical work in the form of capacity building and acquisition of equipment are underway.
“Things have moved, although they are slow,” he says.
“To build a cancer treatment center, so many things come into play – infrastructure wise, workforce, and equipment. What the ministry has done is to start procuring these equipment and also to train people. That is ongoing,” he says.
The center is planned for construction in Lakkah in the far west of the capital, Freetown, and Dr Jalloh says they have completed feasibility and geotechnical study since last year. He also says the plan has received clearance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which is providing financial and technical support for the project.
“Those buildings are not ordinary buildings, they have requirements that you have to follow, because you are going to build bonkers for the radiology. You have the chemotherapy area and also, even where you are going to admit patients – all have to be taking into consideration.”
Dr Jalloh says training is also going on for oncologists, physicists and nurses, among other expertise in preparation for the center.
