The Ministry of Health joined the rest of the world to commemorate World Cancer Day.
This year’s World Cancer Day theme is ‘Close the Care Gap’.
Speaking at the press conference, the Ministry of Health Director General-Health Services, Dr ‘Nyane Letsie outlined progress made by the country in the fight against this disease.
Dr Letsie said the theme; ‘Close the Care Gap’ emphasizes that fighting this disease is a process and requires all to work together in combating it.
Again, the theme identifies and addresses the barriers that exist globally and affect many people when accessing the essential healthcare they need, she said.
She said cancer is now a major cause of mobility and mortality in Lesotho as it is the fifth cause of death among adult men and second among female adults, saying cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer for women in the country, followed by breast cancer and prostate cancer in men.
She noted that the country continues to refer cancer patients to Bloemfontein in South Africa for care and treatment however saying the costs remain high for testing and treatment. She noted that the government spends between M150,000 and M200,00 per patient.
Dr Letsie, therefore, said to ‘close the care gap’ in Lesotho, there is a need for infrastructure, skilled human resources for the management of cancer as well as drugs and supplies.
She added that plans are underway for the construction of a Cancer Hospital in the country and that there will be a Chemotherapy Unit at Queen ‘Mamohato Memorial Hospital and machinery for mixing drugs, saying the new Queen II Hospital on construction process will provide a fully equipped chemotherapy unit.
Further outlining the Ministry’s progress, she said the laboratory services necessary reagents and commodities have been identified for histopathology, saying the first Mosotho Oncologist has resumed duty and has already conducted baseline assessment.
She added that medical physicists, Radiotherapists, Nurse Oncologists and Cytologists amongst others have been trained.
“There is light because most cancer services will be provided in the country although those who will need referral will still go to Bloemfontein,” she said.
Dr Letsie said the presence of the above mentioned services will save the lives of people within a short period as most people will not be referred to South Africa.
Meanwhile, the country spends M12 Million per month on cancer patients.
World Cancer Day is commemorated annually on February 04 with the aim to mobilise the international community to participate in its prevention, detection and treatment as well as to end the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer.
 
Source: LENA 04/02/2022