From Grief to Action: A Father’s Fight Against Cancer

When Wondu Bekele lost his four-year-old son, Mathiwos, to cancer in 2003, the pain was overwhelming. Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia shortly after his second birthday, Mathiwos spent 26 months in intensive treatment at Addis Ababa’s Black Lion Hospital. Despite the relentless efforts of doctors, nurses, and family, he did not survive.

Out of that heartbreak, something enduring was born.

Wondu and his wife founded the Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society (MWECS) in their son’s name—a tribute to his struggle and a commitment to support other families confronting similar battles. “Our organization was established to celebrate the heroic struggle that Mathiwos made against cancer and to extend helping hands to cancer patients,” reads the testament on the society’s website.

But Mathiwos’s passing did more than spark an organization—it transformed his father’s life.

A long-time smoker, Wondu had battled a nicotine addiction for over two decades. The loss of his child forced him to confront his own vulnerability and the choices that affected his family’s future. “There comes a point when you must choose between your family and your addiction,” he recalled. “With the help of my wife, I quit smoking and began helping others affected by the same danger.”

His personal reckoning gave way to a public mission. Today, Wondu is one of Ethiopia’s most recognized voices in cancer advocacy, focusing not only on patient support but also on prevention and public education.

That mission was on full display on August 5, 2025, when Ethiopia marked its second annual World Lung Cancer Day, commemorated at Black Lion Hospital. Themed “Lung cancer can be detected through examination before it spreads and gets worse,” the event aligned with the global celebration of the day’s 14th observance and was organized by the Ethiopian Thoracic Society (ETS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Wondu’s foundation.

The event highlighted the Lung Cancer Project, an initiative supported by the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation (BMSF), which aims to promote early detection and improve follow-up care. In her remarks, Rahel Argaw (MD), president of the ETS, warned of a concerning rise in lung cancer rates across Ethiopia.

“Studies show that lung cancer is becoming more prevalent,” she said. “With support from the BMSF, we’ve implemented an early detection and follow-up project in health institutions across four regions: Addis Ababa, Oromia, Amhara, and Afar.”

Rahel also urged health professionals and the public alike to play a greater role in raising awareness about the risks tied to personal habits—especially smoking.

The ETS’s leadership in organizing the national observance was hailed as a model for how professional associations can drive public health education and systemic change.

Rahel noted that between 6 to 10 percent of all deaths in Ethiopia are caused by cancer, a figure compounded by the country’s limited access to treatment. “Only 15 percent of cancer patients—about 80,000 individuals—are able to access medical services,” she said. “The low accessibility of cancer care remains a critical challenge.”

In response, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health (MoH) is rolling out strategic initiatives to expand early detection and improve treatment capacity. This includes new national guidelines for cancer treatment and a focused plan for lung and other major cancers.

Lung cancer—one of the deadliest forms—was a central topic of this year’s World Lung Cancer Day event. Organizers emphasized that early diagnosis remains the single most effective weapon in fighting the disease, which often goes unnoticed until it’s too late.

“More than 80 percent of lung cancer patients in Ethiopia seek help only after the disease has significantly progressed,” they said. That delay, they noted, is largely due to low public awareness of symptoms and a lack of infrastructure for early screening and follow-up.

Yet amid these systemic gaps, civil society is stepping in where the state struggles. The Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society continues to play a leading role in addressing both the human and institutional sides of the crisis.

To date, the organization has launched more than nine major projects tackling childhood cancer, breast cancer, tobacco-related lung cancer, and other non-communicable diseases. It has also distributed over USD five million in essential medical equipment, including diagnostic tools, treatment devices, and life-saving supplies to hospitals across the country.

“By implementing a comprehensive approach, MWECS is working to reduce the cancer burden in the country,” event organizers said. “Our programs focus on prevention, early detection, public education, and direct patient support.”

One such program, the Cancer Community Support initiative, has helped more than 3,000 individuals, providing financial aid, counseling, and access to medical care. MWECS currently supports more than 360 patients and caregivers, including 96 children and over 80 women battling breast and cervical cancer. The organization also covers transportation, diagnostic testing, medications, food assistance during hospital stays, and even education support for children undergoing treatment.

Under its motto, “We Are People of Action,” MWECS has become one of the most influential players in Ethiopia’s fight against cancer. It has earned three international recognitions for its work, reflecting its growing profile in the global public health community.

Still, the broader national picture remains alarming.

Selamawit Ayele (MD), Director of the Non-Communicable Diseases and Psychotherapy Desk at the Ministry of Health, revealed that non-communicable diseases now account for over 52 percent of all deaths in Ethiopia—with cancer as a major contributor. These deaths, she said, are being driven by rapidly shifting lifestyles: urbanization, dietary changes, declining physical activity, smoking, and high alcohol consumption.

Globally, lung cancer affects 2.2 million people annually and causes 1.8 million deaths, according to Selamawit. Ethiopia is far from immune. Lung cancer is responsible for more than 1.5 percent of national deaths, and the country is woefully under-equipped to respond.

“We have only one cancer registry center in Addis Ababa covering the entire nation,” she said. “That makes it incredibly difficult to identify, track, and treat those affected. The Ministry is working to establish more registry centers across the country as a critical step forward.”

Lung cancer on the rise—but so are efforts to fight it

As lung cancer deaths continue to rise in Ethiopia, the government is beginning to respond with greater urgency. At the World Lung Cancer Day event, officials announced that the number of clinical oncologists in the country has increased from just four to 50, with another 40 currently in training. The Ministry of Health has also stepped up its subsidization of cancer medication, now covering more than 60 percent of drug costs through the national drug supply agency, helping ease the financial burden on hospitals and patients alike.

While Ethiopia still lacks a comprehensive nationwide cancer registry, fragmented studies indicate that lung cancer represents a small but growing share of all cancer cases. Both Rahel and Selamawit underscored that a major obstacle remains: most patients are diagnosed only after the disease has progressed to late stages, drastically reducing the chances of successful treatment.

Interestingly, the Ethiopian lung cancer profile differs from that of high-income countries. While smoking remains a factor, a significant number of Ethiopian patients are non-smokers, pointing to other environmental and lifestyle-related risks. Air pollution, indoor smoke exposure, obesity, and chronic respiratory illnesses are suspected contributors.

“Unlike in wealthier countries, where smoking is the dominant risk, we see a wider array of contributing factors here,” Rahel said. She listed shisha use, occupational exposure to toxic substances, and inhalation of soot and heavy smoke as among the most concerning. “But prevention is possible,” she added, “through early detection, consistent medical follow-up, and behavior change.”

Speaking to The Reporter, she explained: “The longer and more someone smokes, the higher the risk. But if people quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke, we can lay the foundation for a healthier tomorrow.”

As Ethiopia marked its second World Lung Cancer Day, Rahel emphasized the importance of the occasion in galvanizing national momentum. She reaffirmed the Society’s commitment to intensifying public education, early screening, and research. International collaboration, she said, would be key in accelerating progress.

Event representatives echoed this call, urging communities, health professionals, researchers, and policymakers to treat lung cancer as a national health emergency—and act accordingly. “Through coordinated efforts, we can make a significant impact in saving lives and creating a healthy future for all Ethiopians,” they said.

Yet even with more than 3,000 beneficiaries under the Cancer Community Support initiative, and with encouraging efforts underway, the road ahead remains long. Without a centralized cancer registry and full access to diagnostics and treatment, lung cancer continues to pose a serious public health threat.