Tag Archives: Liver cancer

AMA, Health

Science serving lives: Interview with Dr. Alice Guingané, public health researcher (Burkina Faso)

MaraviPost Leave a comment

Geneva, Switzerland, 20 April 2026- /African Media Agency (AMA)/- On World Health Day 2026, under the theme “Together for health. Stand with science,” the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights individuals using science to improve lives in the African Region.

Dr Alice Guingané, a hepato-gastroenterologist and lecturer-researcher at Joseph Ki-Zerbo University in Ouagadougou, is actively engaged in clinical research and disease surveillance. She emphasises that supporting science saves lives.

What role does science play in your daily work? 
Science is at the heart of my daily work. As a physician and a lecturer-researcher at a university hospital, my role is threefold: to provide care, to teach, and to conduct research. Science guides how I think, make decisions, and act.

In clinical care, it enables me to analyse symptoms rigorously, distinguish facts from beliefs, and make evidence-based decisions. In teaching, I strive to make scientific knowledge accessible, including through awareness sessions with patients and communities.
In research, I use epidemiological data to identify public health priorities, select effective interventions, and assess their impact in the field. Science also guides my values: respect for human dignity, responsibility, and commitment to the community.

What motivated you to engage in health research? 
Above all, the desire to find solutions to patients’ problems. I will never forget a nine-year-old boy who died of liver cancer linked to hepatitis B. Like many others, he arrived at the hospital too late, even though a vaccine exists from birth.

This reality pushed me to understand why pregnant women did not access care in time, and how to improve prevention of mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. I oriented all my research around this issue, seeking solutions adapted to our context, training students, and conducting field projects.

Why is it essential that science be supported by society and local authorities? 
Society is at the heart of health research: without community participation, even free services may remain underused due to sociocultural barriers.

Local authorities also play a key role in guiding, regulating and financing research. Producing one’s own data means being able to define one’s health priorities. Science enables evidence-based decision-making, reduces mortality, improves quality of life, and drives innovation and national sovereignty.

How does your work contribute to strengthening disease surveillance in Burkina Faso? 
I am currently the principal investigator in Burkina Faso for a project on the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and mother-to-child transmission of hepatitis B. This integrated approach, supported by WHO, allows resources to be pooled and data to be generated that are directly usable by decision-makers.

I also participate in the HEPSANET network, which aims to strengthen epidemiological data on viral hepatitis in Africa. These initiatives contribute to better surveillance of diseases and their complications, particularly liver cancer.

What is needed to strengthen public trust in science? 
Science must be accessible. It is essential to communicate research findings in clear and understandable ways and to create effective channels to reach communities, health professionals, and decision-makers.

Another major challenge is tackling misinformation. In our context, some traditional beliefs may conflict with modern medicine. Encouraging dialogue and the guided integration of different care practices is essential to strengthening trust.

As a woman scientist, what message do you have for young girls? 
I would encourage them not to hesitate to pursue research it is a deeply rewarding endeavour. It requires organization and balance with family life, but it is not a sprint—it is a long-term commitment. Believe in your abilities, keep your passion alive, and you will accomplish extraordinary things.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of World Health Organisation.

The post Science serving lives: Interview with Dr. Alice Guingané, public health researcher (Burkina Faso) appeared first on African Media Agency.

Health, Opinion

In memory of former Malawi’s Flames Striker Esau Kanyenda

Rick Dzida

The former Malawi Flames Striker Esau Kanyenda has died of Liver cancer in the United Kingdom (UK) on Tuesday morning, December 2, 2025.

In this article, Our contributor Rick Dzida is unpacking more about Liver cancer ….

What is liver cancer?

Liver cancer, also known as hepatocellular carcinoma, is a type of cancer that starts in the liver cells. It’s a serious disease where abnormal cells grow out of control, forming tumors in the liver.

Symptoms of liver cancer:
Often, symptoms don’t appear until the cancer is advanced, but some possible signs include:

  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Abdominal pain or discomfort
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)

What causes liver cancer?
Common causes include:

  • Chronic hepatitis B or C infection
  • Cirrhosis (scarring of the liver)
  • Fatty liver disease
  • Excessive alcohol consumption
  • Aflatoxin exposure (a toxin found in moldy food)

Chances of survival with liver cancer:
Survival rates vary depending on the stage and spread of cancer. Generally, the 5-year survival rate is around 20-30% .

Early detection and treatment can improve chances of survival.

Treatment options:
Treatment depends on the cancer stage, liver function, and overall health. Some options include:

  • Surgery (tumor removal or liver transplant)
  • Ablation therapy (destroying cancer cells with heat or cold)
  • Embolization (cutting off tumor blood supply)
  • Targeted therapy (medications attacking cancer cells)
  • Immunotherapy (boosting immune system to fight cancer)

Screening and prevention:
If you’re at high risk, consider:

  • Regular liver function tests and ultrasound scans
  • Hepatitis B vaccination
  • Avoiding excessive alcohol
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Eating a balanced diet

Rest in peace Esau Kanyenda

AMA, Health

WHO urges action on hepatitis, announcing hepatitis D as carcinogenic

MaraviPost
Yoshi Shimiz
Health workers from Airag soum’s Family Health Centre visit a nomadic herder family in Dornogovi, Mongolia, to provide primary care and administer HBsAg tests for chronic hepatitis B.

GENEVA, Switzerland, 30 July 2025-/African Media Agency (AMA)/- As we mark World Hepatitis Day, WHO calls on governments and partners to urgently accelerate efforts to eliminate viral hepatitis as a public health threat and reduce liver cancer deaths.

“Every 30 seconds, someone dies from a hepatitis-related severe liver disease or liver cancer. Yet we have the tools to stop hepatitis,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

Viral hepatitis – types A, B, C, D, and E – are major causes of acute liver infection. Among these only hepatitis B, C, and D can lead to chronic infections that significantly increase the risk of cirrhosis, liver failure, or liver cancer. Yet most people with hepatitis don’t know they’re infected. Types B, C, and D affect over 300 million people globally and cause more than 1.3 million deaths each year, mainly from liver cirrhosis and cancer.

Hepatitis D now classified as carcinogenic

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified hepatitis D as carcinogenic to humans, just like hepatitis B and C. Hepatitis D, which only affects individuals infected with the hepatitis B, is associated with a two- to six-fold higher risk of liver cancer compared to hepatitis B alone. This reclassification marks a critical step in global efforts to raise awareness, improve screening, and expand access to new treatments for hepatitis D.

“WHO has published guidelines on testing and diagnosis of Hepatitis B and D in 2024, and is actively following the clinical outcomes from innovative treatments for hepatitis D,” said Dr Meg Doherty, incoming Director of Science for Health at WHO.

Treatment with oral medicine can cure hepatitis C within 2 to 3 months and effectively suppress hepatitis B with life-long therapy. Treatment options for hepatitis D are evolving. However, the full benefit of reducing liver cirrhosis and cancer deaths can only be realized through urgent action to scale up and integrate hepatitis services – including vaccination, testing, harm reduction, and treatment – into national health systems.

Latest data and progress

Encouragingly, the majority of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) have strategic plans on hepatitis in place and progress in national hepatitis responses is increasing:

  • in 2025, the number of countries reporting national hepatitis action plans increased from 59 to 123;
  • as of 2025, 129 countries have adopted policies for hepatitis B testing among pregnant women, up from 106 reported in 2024; and
  • 147 countries have introduced the hepatitis B birth dose vaccination, an increase from 138 in 2022.

However, critical gaps remain in service coverage and outcomes, as stated in the 2024 Global Hepatitis Report:testing and treatment coverage remain critically low; only 13% of people with hepatitis B and 36% with hepatitis C had been diagnosed by 2022;treatment rates were even lower – 3% for hepatitis B and 20% for hepatitis C – well below the 2025 targets of 60% diagnosed and 50% treated; andintegration of hepatitis services remains uneven: 80 countries have incorporated hepatitis services into primary health care; 128 into HIV programmes and just 27 have integrated hepatitis C services into harm reduction centres.

The next challenge will be to scale up the implementation of prevention, testing and treatment coverage. Achieving WHO’s 2030 targets could save 2.8 million lives and prevent 9.8 million new infections. With declining donor support, countries must prioritize domestic investment, integrated services, better data, affordable medicines, and ending stigma.

Forging new partnerships

To mark World Hepatitis Day, WHO is partnering with Rotary International and the World Hepatitis Alliance to strengthen global and local advocacy. This year’s campaign “Hepatitis: Let’s break it down” demands action to confront the rising toll of liver cancer linked to chronic hepatitis infections. It also calls for decisive steps to dismantle persistent barriers – from stigma to funding gaps – that continue to slow progress in prevention, testing, and treatment.

Through a joint webinar and coordinated outreach, the partnership underscores the vital role of civil society and community leadership, alongside governments, in sustaining momentum and accelerating progress toward hepatitis elimination.

Distributed by African Media Agency (AMA) on behalf of WHO.

The post WHO urges action on hepatitis, announcing hepatitis D as carcinogenic appeared first on African Media Agency.