8:30am - 8:45am (CDT) | Cancer in somaliland: An inaugural landscape analysis in northern Somalia
Gender Inequality Analysis through the Human Rights Lens (Collaborative Session with Women's Caucus)
Session: Gender Inequality Analysis through the Human Rights Lens (Collaborative Session with Women's Caucus)
Program: Human Rights Forum
Presenter: Catherine Mwai, MPH
Abstract
Cancer ranks as the second leading cause of death worldwide, disproportionately affecting low- to middle-income countries where 70% of cancer-related deaths occur. With humanitarian and international development assistance viewing non-communicable diseases such as cancer as low-priority, cancer remains largely neglected in research, funding and intervention strategies in post-conflict and humanitarian health settings. This inaugural study aimed to analyze the current landscape of cancer control in post-conflict Somaliland, specific to cervical and breast cancers which account for the second highest cause of cancer death among Somali women.
A mixed-method approach was utilized to gather data on the national cancer control landscape. Data sources included: 1) observations of health care providers, 2) semi-structured interviews with identified officials, 3) collection of national policy information initiating the World Health Organization 2021 Country Profile of Capacity and Response to Noncommunicable Diseases survey, 4) and 2021-2022 tumor diagnosis statistics. A Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis was used to identify key themes.
The findings reveal severe limitations in cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care. The nation lacks sufficient healthcare workforce, advanced training in oncology knowledge and cancer care, strategic cancer control policies, a national cancer registry, and a notable absence of cancer care providers. This study underscores the critical need to understand the interplay of geopolitics, international affairs and regulations in advancement of a comprehensive cancer control system. Immediate priorities include motivation of political support, national breast and cervical cancer awareness campaigns, and implementation of HPV vaccination programs in parallel with long-term strategic efforts.