Approximately 400,000 children develop cancer worldwide each year, the majority of them living in low‑ and middle‑income countries. In the WHO African Region, 2020 saw 52,000 new childhood‑cancer cases and 28,000 deaths. The United Nations’ World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that only 20 % of African children with cancer survive five years after diagnosis, compared with 80 % in high‑income nations. Because childhood cancer is generally not preventable, the WHO urges countries to invest early in detection, effective therapy, and supportive care.
International Childhood Cancer Day is observed annually on 15 February to raise awareness and support for children and adolescents affected by the disease. The 2023 theme, “Better Survival,” aligns with the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative’s target that at least 60 % of children diagnosed with cancer worldwide survive by 2030. Achieving this goal requires early diagnosis, universal access to complete treatment, and proper management of toxicity and relapse.
Cancer can affect individuals of any age and may arise in any part of the body. It begins with a genetic change in a single cell, which then proliferates into a mass or tumour that can invade other tissues and become fatal if untreated. Most childhood cancers have no known cause; environmental or lifestyle factors account for only a small fraction. Nevertheless, childhood cancer remains a leading cause of death among children, largely due to late presentation and limited access to care.
The WHO reports that the most common childhood cancers are leukemias, brain tumours, lymphomas, and solid tumours such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumour. In high‑income countries, where comprehensive services are generally available, more than 80 % of children with cancer are cured. In contrast, cure rates in low‑ and middle‑income countries are below 30 %. Access to essential cancer medicines is also starkly unequal: only 29 % of low‑income countries report general availability of these drugs, versus 96 % in high‑income nations.
To improve outcomes, the WHO emphasizes the need for robust childhood‑cancer data systems to drive continuous quality improvements and inform policy decisions. Most childhood cancers can be cured with generic medicines and other treatments, including surgery and radiotherapy, provided that early detection and comprehensive care are ensured.
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