The WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer last week released the results of a 2019 study on patient survival around the world.

According to the paper, patients in Cameroon had less than a 25% chance of survival between 2015 and 2019. “The likelihood of a child with cancer surviving depends greatly on the health system context of the country in which they live and on the socioeconomic status of the child’s family,” says the WHO initiative. Within the Cemac region, only Gabon stood out over the period with a survival rate above 25%; between 25 and 50%, the document reported. On the continent as a whole, Algeria, Namibia, and Botswana boasted cure rates approaching 75%, competing with much more developed countries like Brazil.

As part of its mission, the WHO Global Childhood Cancer Initiative is working with governments and partners to reduce the childhood cancer survival gap between rich and poor countries. The objective is to increase the rate globally to at least 60% by 2030 while reducing patients’ suffering and improving their quality of life.