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Yukiya Amano, Director-General of IAEA, said millions of people continue to suffer from cancer in developing countries, due to lack of access to effective prevention, screening, early diagnosis and treatment.
Amano, who said this at an event commemorating World Cancer Day, called for continued efforts to ensure greater access to vital cancer services, to prevent millions of people from cancer-related deaths yearly.
“The IAEA will continue to work hard to improve facilities in other regions of the world where the need is great,” he said.
Globally, cancer is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, with approximately 14 million new cases and 8 million cancer-related deaths yearly.
There are concerns that the number of new cases could rise by about 70 per cent over the next 20 years.
Observed every year on February 4, World Cancer Day aims to raise awareness on the disease, which can affect any part of the body.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), between 30 to 50 per cent of cancers can currently be prevented by avoiding risk factors and implementing existing evidence-based prevention strategies.
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