Why Uganda’s cancer death rates are rising

Health ministry health services director general Charles Olaro says between 60% and 70% of patients treated at the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) arrive when the disease has progressed to advanced stages three and four, making treatment more difficult and significantly reducing their chances of survival. “This affects our survival rate. It is not necessarily because health workers do not know what they are doing or are providing inappropriate care,” he says.

Olaro warns that without early detection, Uganda’s five year cancer survival rate would remain low, despite increased investment and effort by health workers to treat patients.