In 2018, estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) indicated cancer incidence in Rwanda was 10,704 new cancer diagnoses 4,520 cases among men and 6,184 cases among women were registered, and annual mortality rates stood at 7,662. Against this backdrop, the University of Maryland, Baltimore’s Ciheb Rwanda, in collaboration with the Rwanda Biomedical Centre/Non-Communicable Disease Unit (RBC/NCD), organized a one-day workshop in August 2023. The primary goal of this workshop was to share the advancements made in implementing the National Cancer Control Program (NCCP), cancer registry data, and research dissemination. Additionally, the participants discussed challenges and devised joint plans to accelerate cancer prevention and management efforts in Rwanda.

Dr. Francois Uwinkindi, the NCDs Division Manager, thanked the stakeholders for their valuable contributions to cancer prevention and control efforts. “There have been a number of key achievements from 2007 to 2023, which include expanding laboratory facilities from one with a pathologist to five labs with 22 pathologists and increased diagnostic capacity,” he said. Furthermore, he mentioned the success of decentralized cancer registration initiatives. The top 10 cancers in Rwanda were also shared, with breast and cervical cancers being the most common in women and prostate and stomach cancers being the most prevalent in men.

The NCD Division staff shared notable achievements, such as improved cancer awareness and screening. NCD’s partners also provided updates on progress toward achieving the WHO secondary prevention targets. This involved devolving cervical cancer treatment to health centers, offering treatment at screening sites, implementing electronic patient tracking mechanisms, establishing robust cascades of training, mentorship, and supervision, and engaging in demand generation mobilization at various healthcare delivery levels.

Dr. David Riedel presented on behalf of Ciheb and discussed the relationship between HIV and cancer based on data from the Rwanda Cancer Registry spanning January 2007 to December 2018. “AIDS-defining cancers (ADC) were progressively decreasing, while non-AIDS-defining cancers (NADC) were on the rise among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Rwanda,” he explained. Patients with HIV were found to be less likely to receive treatment compared to those without HIV. Dr. Riedel also highlighted several factors contributing to the increased incidence of NADC among PLWHIV, such as increased longevity, co-infection with oncogenic viruses, and chronic immunodeficiency.

The workshop brought together various stakeholders from the Rwanda Ministry of Health departments, Kigali City Council, provincial and district hospitals, university teaching hospitals, referral hospitals, local and international non-governmental organizations, as well as cancer survivors and advocacy organizations.