The Need for an International Organisation for Cancer Research in Africa

The need for AORTIC becomes obvious as cancer is rapidly emerging as a major health problem in Africa. The erroneous myth that cancerous diseases are rare in Africa has been exploded by numerous publications of various investigators of cancer in Africans. From available information, it is now recognised that cancer is as common in the tropics as it is in Europe and North America.

In most developing countries, cancer work is rated low as more emphasis is placed on the control of communicable diseases and environmental sanitation. With improvements in the control of communicable diseases and environmental sanitation, increasing industrialisation, urbanisation and concomitant increase in life expectancy, it can be confidently predicted that cancer will assume an even larger share of morbidity and mortality in the years to come. Real and significant progress is being made both in understanding of the disease process and in the development of methods of prevention, treatment and cure through the activities of organised bodies for research and teaching in cancer on continents other than Africa. It is, therefore, pertinent that workers in oncology in Africa pay attention to the cancer problems in developing countries and prepare to meet the challenges of the future. This can be accomplished through the setting up of appropriate cancer control programs and purposeful research for the collection of useful information about cancers in the region. AORTIC can certainly meet these challenges and fill the vacuum in cancer work in Africa through long range goals, specifically defined research objectives, epidemiological studies, acquisition of medical case material in sufficient number, for meaningful deductions to be made. This could include biostatistical processes to assure statistical validity of research methods and conclusions, and a training mechanism on a continuing basis for physicians and other health related professionals, nurses, data managers and laboratory scientists.

The objectives of AORTIC at its inauguration