KABUL (SW): The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) noted on Wednesday that thousands of women in Afghanistan lose their lives on annual basis to cancer.
Ferozuddin Feroz, the Health Minister said this here in connection with the World Cancer Day that is marked on February 4th to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment. He mentioned that cancer was causing some 8 million deaths annually worldwide.
About Afghanistan, he mentioned that some 20 thousand people are diagnosed with cancer each year while around 15 thousand deaths are attributed to this disease per annum. He particularly highlighted the high number of breast cancers cases in Afghanistan, which he said can be cured if diagnosed at initial stage and well-treated. He stressed that this disease is curable in the country.
The Minister stated that soon a designated center to cure breast cancer patients would be established at Kabul’s Isteqlal Hospital. He also made it clear that major private hospitals would be bound to have a cancer unit in the future. Feroz mentioned that once cancer-cure center has already been functional at the Kabul Jamhoriat Hospital.
Urging upon the need for a healthy life-style, the Minister stated that the citizens should avoid consuming high-fat food, and instead consume more vegetables and regularly exercise to avoid health complications.
Lack of proper healthcare facilities in the country has been forcing a large number of Afghans to visit neighboring countries like Pakistan and India for treatment that cost them millions of dollars on annual basis.
ENDS
