JUBA–South Sudan recorded an estimated 8,124 new cancer cases and 5,128 cancer-related deaths in 2024, according to figures from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC).
The estimates also indicate that 11,645 people were living with cancer in the country within a five-year period, highlighting the need for improved cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.
Speaking on Thursday during the inauguration of the Population-Based Cancer Registry at Juba Teaching Hospital, Health Minister Dak Duop Bichok said the figures underscored the urgent need for reliable national data to better understand the country’s cancer burden.
“According to WHO and the International Agency for Research and Cancer, AIARC, X-rayed for 2024, published in 2026, South Sudan recorded an estimated 8,124 new cancer cases, 5,128 cancer-related deaths, and 11,645 people living with cancer within a five-year period,” Duop said.
The minister did not mention which cancer type is the leading one in the country.
He said gaps in national cancer data in the country made it difficult to establish the actual number of people affected, identify the most common types of cancer and determine which communities were bearing the greatest burden.
The minister stated that the estimates were largely based on data from neighboring countries because South Sudan lacks comprehensive records collected directly from cancer patients.
“We cannot continue depending on information from other countries to understand the health challenges facing our own people,” Duop said.
Duop said the lack of reliable data had undermined the country’s ability to monitor cancer, plan interventions and contribute adequately to global cancer surveillance.
The newly inaugurated registry is expected to collect, analyze and report information on cancer cases, including the types of cancer affecting the population, their geographical distribution and patient outcomes.
Duop said the data collected in the newly inaugurated registry would guide evidence-based policies, health planning, resource allocation, investment and efforts to strengthen cancer prevention and treatment.
He also called on private hospitals, medical professionals and other health stakeholders to participate in cancer reporting and surveillance to help build a comprehensive picture of the disease.
Meanwhile, Dr. Albino Amum, director of the National Cancer Department at the Ministry of Health, said cancer affects thousands of South Sudanese annually, with thousands dying from the disease.
Amum cited estimates indicating that approximately 8,000 people develop cancer each year, while about 5,000 die from the disease.
He said the figures highlight the growing burden of cancer and the need for reliable data to strengthen prevention, diagnosis, and treatment services in the country.
He also referred to approximately 11,000 people living with cancer, emphasizing the need for stronger surveillance and improved access to healthcare services.
Across the globe, cancer remains a major public health challenge, with an estimated 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths in 2022, according to IARC. Africa recorded approximately 1.2 million new cases and 755,000 cancer-related deaths that year.
The global burden is projected to rise to more than 35 million new cases annually by 2050, underscoring the need for stronger cancer prevention, early detection and treatment services, particularly in countries with limited healthcare resources.
