Health - Mauritius to set up national cancer institute - Mauritius will soon set up a national cancer institute in an effort to better understand the disease, the health minister, Lormus Bundhoo told PANA this Wednesday.
According to the minister although the incidence of cancer in Mauritius is not alarming, the government keeps investing in new equipment, including a new machine for radiotherapy at the cost of one million US dollars.
He said it had been observed that among women cervical cancer had gone down by 15%, mouth and throat by 33%, leukemia by 38% and stomach by 18% between 2005 and 2008.
Among men, cancer of the mouth and throat decreased by 19% and that of the prostate by 4%.
According to the health ministry, the incidence of cancer among men stands at 92 for 100,000 and 129 for 100,000 among women.
A doctor at the ministry indicated that according to official estimates, the number of new cases of cancer would double by 2030 in Mauritius.
He said that about 30% of cancers could be prevented with a good diet.
Pana 07/02/2013