The Republic of Benin (formerly Dahomey), is a country in West Africa, bordered by Togo to the west, by Nigeria to the east and by Burkina Faso and Niger to the north. A majority of the population live on its southern coastline on the Bight of Benin, part of the Gulf of Guinea in the northernmost tropical portion of the Atlantic Ocean. Benin covers an area of approximately 115,000 square kilometers, with a population of approximately 9.98 million. Benin is a tropical, sub-Saharan nation, highly dependent on agriculture. The official language of Benin is French. The political capital of Benin is Porto-Novo (South-East), but the seat of government is in Cotonou, the country's largest city and economic capital.

Cotonou is located on the coastal strip between Lake Nokoué and the Atlantic Ocean. The city is cut in two by a canal, the lagoon of Cotonou. Cotonou has a population of 678 874 and covers an area of approximately 79 square kilometers.

Cotonou Cancer Registry
Cancer registration started in Benin in 2013 with a pathology registry located at the pathology department (Medical school of Cotonou). In 2014, the Ministry of Health established a population based cancer registry under the control of the National program for the fight against NCDs.

Location and logistics
The registry’s office is based in the building of the National Program for the fight against NCDs, including a desk for the director and a computer room. There are 3 computers and two photocopiers available.  Currently, transportation is by public transport, or in personal vehicles.

Staff and management
The registry is supervised by a committee. Pr HOUINATO Dismand , PhD, Epidemiologist and coordinator of the National Program for the fight against NCDs is the president of the committee .

The registry has a staff 5 members.

• Pr AKELE-AKPO Marie-Thérèse, Head of the department of pathology (Medical school of Cotonou) is the Medical Director.
• Dr GNANGNON Freddy, MPH, Surgical Oncologist (National Teaching Hospital of Cotonou) is the dean Medical Director.
• Mr. EGUE Marcel, Epidemiologist, is a registrar graduate in cancer Registration (thanks to the AFCRN).
• Mr. AVAHOUN Valentin and Mr. GOUDJO Gaetan are Epidemiologist and registrars too.  Mr. AVAHOUN and Mr. GOUDJO are expecting to specialize in cancer registration or cancer epidemiology.

Source of finance
The Registry is now financed by the National Program for the fight against NCDs (Ministry of Health)

Registry population
The registry covers the city of Cotonou. Cases from the whole of Cotonou are registered.   The city consists of 13 areas. Cotonou has a population of 678 874 (estimates of 2013)

Sources of information for the registry
The registry collects information from 28 sources where patients may be diagnosed, treated or hospitalized.

• - 9 Hospitals
• -14 private clinics
• -5 private laboratories of pathology

The national teaching hospital of Cotonou is the most important source of information for the registry. Registration is active. The registrars periodically visit each service and private clinics. A "focal point" has been identified in key services and clinics. There is no death registry in Benin. The registry use CANREG 5 for data entry and management.

Contact
Pr AKELE-AKPO Marie-Thérèse
Director, Cotonou Cancer Registry
Head, Department of Pathology (Medical school of Cotonou)
Cotonou Cancer Registry / National Program for the Fight against NCDs
06 BP 738 – AKPAKPA PK3
Cotonou -BENIN
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