African scientists unite to close cancer diagnosis gap

By Obey Musiwa

Scientists, pathologists and laboratory medicine experts from across Africa are pushing for stronger diagnostic systems as the continent battles a growing cancer burden marked by late detection and limited access to specialised care.

The call emerged during the 26th ZACBLabMed International Conference held in Harare, where experts from 14 African countries and international laboratory medicine organisations discussed advances in genomics, proteomics, bioinformatics and cancer management.

The conference was hosted by the Zimbabwe Association of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine (ZACBLabMed) under the theme: “Recent Advances in Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics and Management in Cancer and Infectious Diseases.” The discussions come as cancer continues to place growing pressure on African health systems.

The World Health Organisation says more than one million new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in the WHO African Region, with nearly one million people dying from the disease. It says delayed diagnosis remains common, while access to pathology, radiotherapy, cancer medicines and specialist health workers remains limited in many countries.

WHO estimates that in 2020 the region recorded about 1.1 million new cases and 711,429 cancer-related deaths, with the burden projected to rise sharply in coming decades. Most cancers in Africa are diagnosed at advanced stages because of limited awareness, inadequate screening and diagnostic services, and barriers to accessing healthcare.

Former Health and Child Care Minister Dr Obadiah Moyo told delegates that African health systems needed to move beyond treating diseases after they emerge towards predicting and preventing them. He advocated a model he described as P4 Medicine personalised, predictive, preventive and participatory. “We are witnessing a fundamental transformation, a shift from reactive healthcare to preventive healthcare,” Moyo said.

“The future of medicine is not just about treating disease, it is about predicting it, preventing it, and partnering with the patient to sustain wellness.” He said achieving that transition would require investment in health data systems, nutrition science and public health education. ZACBLabMed founder and president Professor Hilda Matarira, who is also president of the Zimbabwe College of Pathology, said genomics, proteomics and bioinformatics were increasingly important tools in understanding and treating disease.

She explained that genomic research examines DNA and genetic information, while proteomics focuses on proteins produced through biological processes. Bioinformatics then uses computational tools to analyse large volumes of biological data. “The sequencing of these genes goes through computer analysis, which is called bioinformatics, and all this has to be managed in a clinical laboratory,” Matarira said.

She also called for greater research into Africa's biodiversity and the potential medicinal value of indigenous plant species. “Africa has many, many resources in plants, over 3 000 species, and we still have to discover the African drugs,” she said. President of the African Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Professor Akalu Gizemati said Africa continued to face a major capacity gap in health diagnostics.

“We are 15 years behind others, but we are building capacity with partners,” he said. The challenge is particularly acute in pathology and laboratory services, which are essential for confirming cancer diagnoses and determining the most appropriate treatment. WHO says late-stage presentation and limited access to diagnosis and treatment remain widespread in the African Region. In 2015, only 35 percent of low-income countries reported having generally available pathology services in the public sector.

The agency says early diagnosis can significantly improve cancer outcomes by enabling patients to receive treatment before disease spreads. Its guidance identifies awareness, clinical evaluation, diagnosis, staging and timely treatment as critical components of effective early-diagnosis programmes. For African health systems, the challenge is therefore not simply discovering new cancer treatments but ensuring that patients can access the diagnostic tools needed to identify disease early.

The Harare conference brought together African and international laboratory experts to explore how technologies such as genomic sequencing, proteomics and data analysis can help close that gap. The discussions point to a broader shift in African healthcare from waiting for patients to become seriously ill to building systems capable of identifying disease earlier, tailoring treatment and improving survival.

With cancer cases expected to continue rising, scientists say strengthening Africa's diagnostic capacity will be central to saving lives.

cancer diagnosis in Africa