KABUL: The Ministry of Public Health officials have said that cancer cases have risen in the country due to “wars, displacement, and environmental pollution” over the past two decades.
According to Radio Omid correspondent, it was stated by Dawood Miraki, head of the National Cancer Control Program at the Ministry of Public Health, during a campaign launch for cancer awareness in Kabul today.
“If the current situation continues, cancer incidence in Afghanistan is expected to rise by 60% over the next two decades (by 2049),” he said emphasizing the need for treating cancer patients and implementing preventive measures against the disease in the country.
Currently, he noted that around 20 million people worldwide are diagnosed with cancer annually, with 10 million of them succumbing to the disease.
Meanwhile, Mawlavi Abdul Wali Haqqani, Deputy Minister of Health Services, pointed out that cancer affects millions each year, and raising awareness about it is not solely the responsibility of the Ministry of Public Health.
He encourages families, citizens, and prominent figures to participate in increasing awareness regarding cancer.
The Deputy Minister assures that the ministry will not neglect any infectious diseases, including cancer. He referred to the establishment and operationalization of a cancer diagnosis and treatment hospital, the promise of which was made last year and has now been fulfilled. The Ministry of Public Health is seeking to enhance awareness about cancer through the launch of this informational conference.