Ghana, and West Africa will soon benefit from a comprehensive state-of-the-art cancer centre.

This is according to the Chief Executive Officer for the African Cancer Control Partners, Bert M Peterson, who is leading a team of experts bent on impacting lives and changing society, to construct the centre.

Speaking on the Super Morning Show on Friday, January 28, 2022, he indicated that the facility which is expected to be completed within a two-year time frame, will not only serve as a hub for cancer treatment but will also be instrumental in the research on the disease since it will contain a well-resourced research center.

This will facilitate research into cancers and their treatment to enable health experts better deal with the disease going forward.

During the show, he bemoaned the fact that Africa is lagging behind in terms of research and treatment of cancers, especially in women.

He said the huge disparity between Africa and other parts of the world in terms of the rate at which cancers are diagnosed and treated is a dire situation that ought to be addressed.

According to him, black people are often diagnosed with cancer at an early age. However, the continent continues to lag behind due to the lack of facilities to deal effectively with the disease.

“As black people, we are often diagnosed with cancer at an earlier stage but we still continue to be behind,” he said.

His major concern was that despite this alarming development, Africa is also not doing well in terms of research. Hence, his decision to collaborate with other team members to establish the ultra-modern cancer treatment centre for Ghana and West Africa.  

“It is critical that we take our research seriously. We need to better understand diseases that are unique to our population in order to treat them better,” he said.”

The ultra-modern facility will also have an educational outreach component which will ensure that people are well sensitized on the disease.