President Adama Barrow has called for collaboration between The Gambia and key stakeholders in the fight against cancer, during an audience with the leader of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mr Alfred Carago, and his team.
The above information which came from State House in Banjul on 22nd March 2024, indicate that the team was led by the Minister of Health Dr. Lamin Samateh, who briefed the President on the assessment of the capacities and needs to improve The Gambia’s cancer programme infrastructure.
President Barrow emphasised that joining forces will help leverage his Government’s efforts to tackle a growing cancer burden in order to make a more significant impact on the lives of people with cancer. He urged all the stakeholders to work together to sustain life saving opportunities for all those who are impacted by cancer.
Dr. Samateh harped on the rise of liver, breast and prostate cancer cases in many developing countries of which The Gambia is not an exception.
“We have seen quite a number of cases of cancer mortality in the country, which is a result of the late arrival of patients in health facilities,” he said. Dr. Samateh commended President Barrow’s Administration for setting up a Cancer Control Programme Unit under the Ministry of Health, which advocates, sensitises, supports and coordinates early diagnosis and treatment activities.
Collaborating with partners like the UN agencies, The Government is taking a holistic approach to cancer control for continuous care, and will explore continuous dialogue and knowledge sharing to improve cancer treatment and radiation therapy in The Gambia.
Speaking to the Press, Dr. Samateh applauded Mrs. Fatoumatta Bah Barrow for her significant strides in fighting cancer through advocacy for cancer education and prevention, including making advanced cancer treatment available to more patients.
