CARPHA urges preventative cancer measures in Caribbean

The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) is urging citizens of the Caribbean region to prevent the high level of cancer deaths through primary prevention, screening, early detection, timely diagnosis and treatment.

According to the health Agency, for the region, cancer is still the second leading cause of death. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 30 and 50 per cent of cancer deaths could be prevented by modifying or avoiding key risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies.

Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr Joy St John stated in a release from the Agency on Wednesday: “Breast and cervical cancer are the leading causes of cancer deaths in women and in Caribbean men, prostate cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths, followed by lung cancer. This can have a significant negative societal impact in our Region.  Cervical cancer is perhaps the most preventable through education, screening, early detection, treatment and vaccination against the human papilloma virus (HPV), and Caribbean countries must work towards the elimination of cervical cancer.”

With the emergence of COVID-19, CARPHA said that people with cancer are more likely to have complications if infected with COVID-19 due to their compromised immune system.

It has also been noted that people who have COVID-19 and an underlying condition such as cancer have higher mortality than those without cancer and other chronic diseases. People with cancer are encouraged to protect themselves against the COVID-19 virus.

Meanwhile, a person’s risk of developing cancer can also be substantially reduced through the adoption of healthy lifestyles and the practice of suitable health-seeking behaviours.

The Agency stated that it is committed to working with key partners to reduce the burden of cancer in the Region.  Through the Caribbean Hub’s work, Ministries of Health, and cancer registries in CARPHA Member States have benefitted from advocacy, technical support, training, and capacity building for strengthening cancer registration.

The Agency also works with other CARICOM agencies and international institutions to impact trade agreements and influence the availability and access to healthy foods to support the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including cancer.