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The African Cancer Organization (ACO), a non-governmental, non-political, not-for-profit cancer organization that promotes prevention and early detection intervention of cancer in Ghana is to mark this year’s World Cancer Day slated for the 4th of February with a Cancer Prevention Sensitization for the general public.

This year’s World Cancer Day themed “we can, I can” is an annual event held on February 4th every year is a day set aside by the Union for International Cancer Control and dedicated to raising awareness about cancer and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.

The ACO Cancer Control Campaign brings together captains of industry, corporate heads, heads of civil society organizations, thought leaders and other opinion leaders in the country to take against cancer. 

The decision to hold such a campaign, according to ACO, is born out of the organization’s desire to apprise leadership in the country the speed with which cancer, an otherwise alien disease, is spreading in Ghana and to outline to these leaders the number of available preventive channels for the disease that could help avert the currently prevailing high incidence rate in Ghana.

“The goal of this campaign is to sensitize Ghanaians about cancer prevention, pledge leaders to promote cancer prevention especially at their respective workplaces and also as change agents in our society” says Paul Opoku Agyeman, the Executive Director of ACO.

“We believe when leadership has a grasp of the message, it is easier for our folks down there to receive it and change their perception towards cancer and then lead a lifestyle that prevents cancer.”

Mr. Opoku Agyeman also reveals some worrying phenomenon when it comes to perception and the knowledge of the disease among the populace saying “in our work across the length of the country, we have witnessed a worrying trend in perception towards the disease. “Because of this”, he further reiterates, “most cancer cases are reported to the hospital at advanced stages and at the point when no curative measure is effective.”     

According to Mr. Opoku Agyemang, making changes to the food we eat, the level of exercise we undertake, maintaining a normal body weight and having regular vaccination, about a third of cancers can be prevented. Another third of cancers can be cured if detected early.

He said “although much remains to be learned about cancer, enough is now known about the causes of cancer and means of control for suitable intervention to have a significant impact. “The knowledge, the tools and the technologies required to fight and defeat cancer are all available. “What is needed now is the system to effectively and efficiently translate the present knowledge into action -and that is what ACO is doing.”

An estimated 14.1 million new cancer cases and 8.2 million cancer-related deaths occurred in 2012. About 70% of the global cancer burden fall on developing nations and it is projected to increase further if we do nothing.

ACO believes the time has come for all and sundry to get on board to fight the disease before it becomes another uncontrollable menace on our hands. “We need to pull our efforts and resources together and fight cancer in a concerted manner –if we can, then I can. Let us all take action against cancer now” says Mr. Opoku Agyemang.