MONICA KAYOMBO/Zambia/Lusaka
The 2024 Policy Brief by the Lung Ambition Alliance in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) highlights the urgent need for proactive interventions to improve patient outcomes, focusing on early detection through screening programmes.
The Lung Alliance is pushing for multi-stakeholder involvement, public education, adherence to guidelines, and integration of innovative technologies like Artificial Intelligence ( AI) platforms to facilitate national screening programmes.
This comes as lung cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally since 1987, with 2.21 million new cases and 1.8 million deaths annually.
In the MEA region, the situation is alarming, with rising incidence, prevalence, and mortality rates.
Most lung and any other type of cancer cases are diagnosed at advanced stages due to lack of early detection, resulting in fatality rates around 90 percent.
A 2024 study projects cancer deaths in men will surge 93 percent by 2050, with lung cancer remaining the leading cause.
Research reveals women have a higher EGFR mutation rate (64 percent vs 36 percent in men), and patients with EGFR are more likely to be nonsmokers. The economic burden is staggering and lung cancer has the highest global cost, totaling $3.9 trillion.
The situation demands urgent action. Governments and healthcare systems must integrate lung cancer screening into Universal Health Coverage strategies, invest in evidence-based care pathways, and prioritize national strategies for early detection and intervention. Enhancing workforce capacity, digital innovation, and access to screening services is crucial.
The upcoming Global Digital Health Forum in Kenya will explore leveraging AI to strengthen data systems and public health intelligence, potentially informing strategies to control lung cancer globally. It’s a glimmer of hope in the fight against this devastating disease.
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