Worrying Trend in Childhood Cancer Emerges in Ghana
Childhood cancer cases are significantly increasing in Ghana, with specialists expressing concern that under-diagnosis, delayed presentation, and financial hurdles mean the true scale of the problem is likely much larger than official statistics indicate. This trend is placing immense pressure on the country’s limited paediatric oncology resources.
Surge in Diagnoses at Major Hospitals
At the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, the Paediatric Oncology Unit has observed a sharp rise in new diagnoses. Previously, the unit saw between 100 and 130 new cases annually. However, last year recorded 160 new cases, and an alarming 65 children have already been diagnosed in the first quarter of the current year. This pattern mirrors observations at other key facilities, such as Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which reported 230 cases in 2020.
Dr. Yvonne Addo, a Specialist Paediatrician at KATH, stated,
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