New national cancer cases top 1,000 annually

Ministry of Health permanent secretary, Shenaaz El-Halabi said the “sobering reality” was accentuated by limited awareness among patients on cancer and cancer risk factors, weakened social structures and individual empowerment, limited skills and knowledge of clinical personnel, as well as inconsistent supply of medicines and reagents.

According to the Botswana National Cancer Registry, over 16,500 people were diagnosed with cancer between 2003 and 2012.  “Countless die with the majority having been diagnosed late,” said El-Halabi.