To address the rising cases of oesophageal cancer in the country, the University of North Carolina Project Malawi (UNC) has urged people in the area of Senior Chief Khombeza in Salima to prioritise healthy living to reduce the risk of suffering from oesophageal cancer.
According to pathologist Shiraz Khan, Oesophageal cancer mostly starts due to bad eating habits, excessive drinking and smoking and lack of mouth hygiene, among others.
Khan called on the communities to seek medical attention whenever they have swallowing problems, as research shows that early detection helps to treat the cancer easily.
Malawi’s ambassador to the United States of America, Esme Chombo, said the government is committed to fighting the disease. She says the current administration is ready to partner with the private sector to find solutions to the problem.
Member of Parliament for Salima North West Enock Phale hailed the organisation for organising the awareness campaign in the area, saying a lot of people are not aware of the causes of oesophageal cancer, which puts them at a great risk.
Since 2020, UNC project Malawi, in collaboration with Boston Scientific and other partners, have managed to provide medical help to over 1500 oesophagal cancer patients.
By Emmanuel Chimutu
