Lusaka — CANCER continues to be the leading cause of death globally, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has stated.

And health minister Sylvia Masebo said the cancer clinic at the University Teaching Hospital would remove the burden Zambia currently faces from the disease.

Commemorating the World Cancer Day, which fell on Saturday, the WHO stated that an estimated 7.6 million people died of cancer in 2005 and 84 million people will die in the next 10 years if action was not taken.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has proposed a global goal of reducing chronic disease death rates by two per cent per annum from 2006 to 2015.

"Achievement of this goal would avert over eight million of the projected 84 million deaths due to cancer in the next decade," stated WHO.

According to WHO, more than 70 per cent of all cancer deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries where resources available for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer were limited or non-existent.

The WHO stated that tobacco use alone accounted for some 1.5 million cancer-related deaths per year.

Dr Catherine Le Gales-Camus, assistant director-general for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health said governments must, first and foremost, address the tremendous inequalities between developed and developing countries in terms of cancer prevention, treatment and care.

"Despite our knowledge that many cases are avoidable, or curable when detected early and treated according to best evidence, sadly for many people tumors are detected too late and adequate treatment is not available. Furthermore, the quality of life of many patients with cancer can be improved substantially by pain control and palliative care," she said.

It is estimated that over 40 per cent of all cancer could be prevented.

"A rapidly changing global environment due to globalisation of markets and urbanisation is leading to rising consumption of processed foods high in fats, sugars and salt, as well as tobacco products; declining consumption of fruit and vegetables; and more sedentary activity levels. As a consequence the burden (incidence) of cancer and other chronic diseases is increasing," stated WHO.

And Masebo told Parliament last week that government had sent Zambians abroad to train as doctors for the cancer clinic. She said the doctors would be bonded for a period of three years. Masebo said since the clinic would be opened soon, government would seek the services of some personnel who were in private practice.