Increasing cancer cases a result of risky behavior

Batswana continue to engage in behaviors that increase their risks of getting different types of cancers, Chief Health Officer at the Health and Wellness Ministry, Chandilili Mosweunyane said recently. Addressing a crowd during the commemoration of World Cancer Day at Maruapula school recently, Mosweunyane cited the 2014 survey that looked into the prevalence of risk factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) s and said the results showed that Batswana are more likely to smoke and consume more than the recommended amount of alcohol, and they are also more likely to be obese and less likely to eat vegetables or exercise.

According to the report, 18.3 percent of Batswana smoke, 26.4 per cent are heavy consumers of alcohol while 20 per cent do not engage in enough physical activity and 94.8 per cent don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. Mosweunyane urged: “Take a proactive stand, modify your lifestyles and visit health facilities for early detection. We all have the power to take various actions to reduce the impact cancer has on individuals, families and communities.”

While she acknowledged that there was a lot that needed to be done, Mosweunyane revealed that the Ministry has just finalized the multi-sectoral national NCD strategy (2017-2022), which will consolidate and focus country efforts in mitigating the burden of NCD’s in Botswana. “The strategy will focus our ability to restore quality life to those affected through provision of evidence-based care,” she stated. Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 8.8 million deaths in 2017. In Botswana, approximately 1100 patients are diagnosed with different cancers every year.