Botswana has a population of approximately two million people, and as a nation has 1,600 new cancer patients per year. Despite universal access to free health care, documents from the Botswana Cancer Association show that breast and cervical cancer are the most common forms of cancer for women in Botswana, with prostate cancer most often affecting men.
Dr. Joe Pisalema: “Cancer cannot be easily detected at its earliest stage and there are many causes to this disease, the unhealthy diets or the food we take, lack of exercise fueled largely by, at times factors that can be changed such as tobacco and alcohol abuse.”
Governmental plans and difficulties
The Botswana Ministry of Health and Wellness is battling to reduce the burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. Alfred Madigele says his ministry has developed the multi special national Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) strategy (2018/2023) which will consolidate and focus the country’s efforts in lessening the burden Non-Communicable Diseases in Botswana.
However, prioritizing cancer treatments is challenging in countries with limited health budgets and several health issues.
Backyard gardens
In 2014 the Botswana health and wellness ministry set onto a national survey to assess the burden of risk factors of NCDs in the country and the study revealed that 20 percent of Batswana do not engage in enough physical activities, 26 percent took alcohol while 95 percent does not eat enough fruits and vegetables. The minister says if nothing is done about these figures, the country will continue to see a prevalence of cancer and lose of precious lives prematurely.
The ‘backyard gardens’ project the Botswana government came up five years ago, was a ‘flop’ because of the scarcity of water and high costs. Fruits and vegetables remain a scarce and expensive commodity because most of them are imported from the neighboring countries – particularly South Africa. Some families cannot afford fruits or vegetables because of the high prices.
