# Cancer awareness and screening in West and Central Africa > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/cancer-awareness-and-screening-in-west-and-central-africa > Updated: 2026-10-02T18:26:49.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 2. Health organizations and authorities in West and Central African nations have initiated various campaigns to improve cancer awareness, screening, and diagnostic capabilities. In September, Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon launched the ‘September in Gold’ campaign to address pediatric cancer. In Côte d’Ivoire, organizers highlighted a survival rate gap, noting recovery is approximately 35% compared to a global average of nearly 80%, exacerbated by a shortage of specialists. Gabon’s initiative, themed ‘See early, act early’, aims to train parents and professionals to recognize early warning signs. By October, efforts expanded to include broader cancer and chronic disease screenings. Burkina Faso launched its ‘Octobre Rose’ campaign, aiming to provide 100,000 cervical cancer screenings and 6,000 free echo-mammographies, while also introducing MammaTyper molecular diagnostic technology to provide rapid results. In Côte d'Ivoire, medical caravans have begun conducting free screenings for hypertension and diabetes alongside ongoing efforts to promote early detection of breast and cervical cancers. ## Timeline ### 2026-10-02: West Africa intensifies cancer screening and diagnostic efforts Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire are launching major health initiatives, including breast cancer screening campaigns and new molecular diagnostic technology to improve early disease detection. 11 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/burkina-faso-introduces-mammatyper-molecular-breast-cancer-diagnostics ### 2026-09-04: West and Central African nations launch pediatric cancer awareness campaigns Health organizations in Côte d’Ivoire and Gabon have launched the ‘September in Gold’ campaign to improve pediatric cancer awareness and promote early diagnosis to increase survival rates. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/west-and-central-african-nations-launch-pediatric-cancer-awareness-campaigns --- Cite as: Cancer awareness and screening in West and Central Africa. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/cancer-awareness-and-screening-in-west-and-central-africa