The Global Fight Against Cancer

Zambia Nurses Treat Tens of Thousands With Cervical Cancer: The Leading Cause of Death Among Women in sub-Saharan Africa

Lusaka, Zambia — Down a dirt road in Lusaka that snakes through makeshift hawker stalls lies the Zambia Ministry of Health George Clinic. Patients crowd waiting areas sitting on thin benches sometimes for several hours waiting to be seen by a nurse. What  makes this clinic unique is that it is one of only a handful of places in a city of 1.7 million where women are screened for cervical cancer. It is at full capacity every day as it serves a neighborhood of over 30,000 women.

The clinic uses the VIA (Visual Inspection using acetic acid) method to screen for cancer of the cervix. If suspicious lesions are found and can be removed by the nurse by cryotherapy  this is done immediately because once a patient leaves clinic staff may never see her again as most patients do not have a formal address. Over 80 percent of the women agree to be treated on the spot. Nurses’ role as a counselor is crucial as most patients have never had a simple pelvic exam.

Cervical cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among women in sub-Saharan Africa  due to a high prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, which causes cervical cancer, coupled with a lack of screening services and early detection. In Zambia the impact of the disease is catastrophic as it accounts for  up to half  of of all female cancer cases .Eight out of ten patients die from the disease. Health authorities in countries like the US recommend women get their first screening in their 30's.  Yet, in  Zambia large numbers of women in their early 20's already have signs of the disease and many suffer from advanced-stage cervical cancer.

Women are the backbone of Zambia, besides being the mothers, family managers and caretakers, they are breadwinners as well. The death of even one woman is devastating to a community as they must now take in the children from her family with the few economic resources that they have available further straining an already fragile situation.

As bleak as the situation seems, progress is being made in the fight against the disease. The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia in association with the Ministry of Health began the first program to screen for cancer of the cervix in 2003.  From a shoebox-of-a-room in the University Teaching Hospital — the program has grown and has rolled out to a handful of places that includes the George Clinic. The program has successfully screened over 72,000 women in nearly a decade.  Still in pilot stage the program will expand nationally if funding becomes available.

 Expanding cervical cancer screening to all the districts in Zambia is easier said than done.  Roads are ruined in the rainy season. Communications and infrastructure are addled year round. Myths about illness abound.  Many believe cervical cancer is a "curse" or a "hexe " Many women seek treatment from traditional healers rather than going to a local health post. There is a strong role for awareness, education and advocacy in this fight.

 In the end this battle will be won by two people — woman entering the clinic and the nurses performing the screening. Their 20-minute interaction is what will bring more women into screening clinics. If patients feel that they are in a secure environment where they are respected and valued, they will spread the word in their communities and more women will come to be screened. Our role as NGOs, donors, researchers, and administrators is to make sure that nurses and their patients have the resources and support they need.

 — Jay Evans, Director of Business Planning, ACS Global Health Programs 

Global Cervical Cancer Headline Facts

• Cervical cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, and the leading cause of cancer death among women in sub-Saharan Africa and South Central Asia in 2008. That year, cervical cancer caused an estimated 275,100 deaths.Ninety percent of these deaths occurred in developing parts of the world, where access to screening and treatment are often non-existent and adolescent girls are not receiving vaccination for the human papilloma virus (HPV), the primary risk factor for cervical cancer.
• The HPV vaccine can prevent up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases, and cost-effective procedures are available to detect and treat cervical pre-cancer.
• To redress the rise in cervical cancer, the Society has spearheaded programs in India, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. We aim to promote public awareness about cervical cancer, educate health professionals, and improve access to screening. We collaborate with PATH and the Cervical Cancer Action Coalition with a shared goal of preventing cancer globally.

Source:  Global Cancer Facts & Figures, 2nd edition

Togo Increases Taxes on Tobacco

Africa Tobacco Control Consortium Press Release by Tih Armstrong Ntiabang

Lome, Togo – The African Tobacco Control Consortium (ATCC) congratulates the Togolese government for the five per cent increase in tobacco excise tax in its 2012 budget.

According to Tcha-Kondor Nouréiny, Tax Campaign Coordinator of the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), such an increase is a win-win to the Togolese government as ‘it will have a direct impact on both public health and government revenue’.

Studies have shown that higher tobacco taxes reduce tobacco use.

In the previous budget, tobacco excise tax which is an ad valorem tax was 35 per cent. This increase brings the excise tax rate at 40 per cent. Togo is a member of the West African Economic and Monetary Union in which the recommended ceiling for tobacco tax is 45 per cent.

“Togo is setting a good example in the West African sub-region for the promotion of tobacco taxation policies. We encourage other countries to do the same,” said Dr. Ebeh Kodjo Fabrice, ATCA Executive Secretary.

Since June 2011, ANCE – TOGO (Alliance Nationale des Consommateurs et de l’Environnement) and ATCA have met authorities from the Ministry of Finance, as well as parliamentarian groups, to sensitize them about the importance of tobacco taxes and the dangers of affordability of tobacco products.

In the course of the process, they developed policy papers and factsheets on tobacco tax and made them available to the directorate of taxes. 

“We are happy our efforts were not in vain,” Nouréiny said. Adding that, the experience in South Africa shows that in order to be effective, increase in tobacco tax should be regular.

Togo's tobacco excise tax rose by five per cent in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

Rachel Kitonyo, ATCC Programme Coordinator while applauding the efforts of tobacco control advocates in Togo, advised them to continue the good work thereby making sure the tax increase is also felt on the price of cigarettes in the local market. 

“There is clear evidence on cigarette prices and cigarette smoking. Price increases have always led to significant reductions in smoking, especially amongst youths. Togo is on the right track,” Rachel said.

 

 

Tobacco Control Leaders in Congo Drive Home Need for 360° Approach in French Speaking Africa

Workshop reinforces need to fight for enforcement of new smoke-free laws 

 while engaging in new campaigns to change social norms around tobacco

Brazzaville, Congo – A network of Congolese tobacco control organizations (Réseau des ONG Congolaise de Lutte Antitabac - ROCAT) expressed satisfaction at the end of a tobacco control leadership capacity-building workshop sponsored and facilitated by the Africa Tobacco Control Consortium (ATCC). The workshop took place at the Vouela training center (20 km from Brazzaville) from November 29 - December 02, 2011. 

Célestin ZOUMA, President of ROCAT described the four-day training as a first-time, unique opportunity, “We had the opportunity to eliminate all misconceptions on tobacco control; we have just acquired new skills. We need to act without delay.”

Two Members of Parliament counted among 18 participants spanning civil society, media, and religious authorities.  The Congolese Ministry of Health and Population was also present through tobacco control point person Mrs. LIKIBI BOHO Rosalie. Select topics covered included the rationale for tobacco control with highlights on the health, economic, social and environmental reasons for tobacco control from both a global and African perspective. Facilitators walked participants through guidelines on the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) provisions including smoke-free public places (art.8), tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (art.13), packaging and labeling (art.11), and protecting tobacco control measures from tobacco industry interference (art.5.3). 

“I enjoyed the work groups. The gathering gave me an opportunity to deepen my knowledge of tobacco control,” said Alexis BABINDAMA from a Congolese consumer association (Association Congolaise pour la defense des droits des consommateurs).  

Most training modules were theoretical and practical. Other topics covered included provisions of a comprehensive tobacco control law, techniques for effective coalition-building using ROCAT as a case study and media advocacy techniques with focus on message development and transmission. 

“Although a smoke-free legislation was passed by the Congolese parliament, many citizens and decision makers are not aware of the magnitude of problems related to tobacco demand and supply,” said Eugene BIBOKA, one of the training participants and member of the health, social, family and gender committee at the Congolese National Assembly.

Now that a law has been passed by parliament, it is important for us to start preparing for its revision.  

“This is because we don’t know how compliant it is with the FCTC,” said Dr. Ebeh Kodjo Fabrice, Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Tobacco Control in Africa (ACTA) and one of the co-facilitators.

Information gathered in the course of the training revealed that the tobacco control law recently passed by parliament was not thoroughly revised by specialists in the field. Again, civil society and other tobacco control stakeholders present at the training neither had a copy of the law nor could talk about its content comprehensively.

 The training also gave an opportunity to understand ROCAT and to review its objectives, governing structure and reflect on how to strengthen its human resources capacity. “There is a lot to be done in Congo. It is therefore indispensable for us to give a new impetus to our network. The clock is ticking, people are dying, there no time to waste,” ZOUMA said, adding that they will between now and February 2012 convene a special general assembly in order to elect members of the board of directors to their network. 

“We count on the continuous support of the ATCC,” he concluded.

 
— Tih A. Ntiabang

 

American Cancer Society Joins 'Million Moms Challenge' to Tackle Second Leading Cancer Killer Among Women in Developing Countries The Society Joins ABC News, United Nations Foundation's 'Million Moms Challenge

The Society Joins ABC News, United Nations Foundation's 'Million Moms Challenge'

to Raise Awareness of Cervical Cancer Globally

ATLANTA, Dec. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Although largely preventable through early detection, cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in developing countries, where more than 85 percent of the estimated 529,800 cervical cancer cases worldwide in 2008 occurred. While cervical cancer screening rates have decreased by as much as 65 percent over the past four decades due to screening, incidence rates remain high in developing countries in Central and South America, the Caribbean, sub-Saharan Africa, and Southern Asia where girls and women do not have access to prevention services such as education, HPV vaccination and life-saving pre-cancer screening and early treatment.

The American Cancer Society has joined ABC News and the United Nations Foundation in the recently launched Million Moms Challenge (www.millionmomschallenge.com ), an initiative aimed at connecting millions of American women with millions of moms in developing countries and raising awareness of maternal issues such as pregnancy, childbirth, children's health and moms' health worldwide. As the world's leading voluntary health organization, the American Cancer Society lends its expertise and resources to the Million Moms Challenge to raise awareness about cervical cancer, a leading cause of death among women worldwide and a disease that affects maternal health, especially in developing countries.

 "There is a great need to increase access to and improve quality of cervical cancer screening programs for women in countries where resources are not available," said Otis W. Brawley, M.D., the American Cancer Society's chief medical officer. "The American Cancer Society is proud to join the Million Moms Challenge in raising global awareness of cervical cancer and providing opportunities to save lives and reduce suffering from this highly curable and preventable disease."

 The American Cancer Society recommends cervical cancer screening for women 18 and over approximately three years after a woman begins having vaginal intercourse, but no later than 21 years of age. Screening should be done every year with conventional Pap tests or every two years using liquid-based Pap tests. At or after age 30, women who have had three normal test results in a row may get screened every two to three years.

 The American Cancer Society is a member of Cervical Cancer Action, a coalition of organizations and individuals dedicated to eliminating cervical cancer deaths worldwide by raising global awareness and advancing a global call to action to address cervical cancer. For more information on the American Cancer Society's global efforts and how to join the movement, visit www.global.cancer.org  
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end cancer for good. As a global grassroots force of three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping you stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early, helping you get well by being there for you during and after a diagnosis, by finding cures through groundbreaking discovery and fighting back through public policy. As the nation's largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.5 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

The Million Moms Challenge is part of an ABC News year-long global health series "Be the Change: Save a Life," which is sponsored in part by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. For more information about the Million Moms Challenge visit www.millionmomschallenge.com or facebook.com/millionmomschallenge. To get involved in the conversation about healthy moms and babies around the world, follow @AMillionMoms on Twitter and use the hash-tag #AMillionMoms. Watch for the Diane Sawyer primetime special on maternal health airing December 16th.

SOURCE American Cancer Society

ACS Backs Dublin Resolution: Accord Seeks to Prevent the Preventable, Treat the Treatable and Provide Paliation

Dublin, Ireland — The World cancer Leaders' Summit 2011 (WCLS) held in Dublin, Ireland this week.  The event was the first opportunity since the United Nation's High-level Meeting on NCDs for health, government, philanthropic and corporate leaders from around the world to agree strategies and actions to convince governments to commit to specific time-bound targets that address the global burden of cancer. The key outcomes of the WCLS 2011 were formally ratified in the creation of the first Dublin Resolution. 

American Cancer Society CEO John R. Seffrin, PhD and Ann McMikel, Managing Director, African Cancer Control and Global Health Planning, represented the Society at WCLS 2011. "It is not a pipe dream to think we can save more lives", said Dr. Seffrin speaking during a panel discussion by CEOs of major UICC organizations to discuss how they plan to support the Dublin Resolution. He said that by working together – in public and private partnerships, across sectors and borders – we can prevent the preventable; treat the treatable and provide palliation.

GAVI Takes First Steps to Introduce Vaccines Against Cervical Cancer and Rubella

Dakha, Bangladesh — Responding to demand from developing countries, the GAVI Alliance took the first steps towards the introduction of Human papillomavirus (HPV) and rubella vaccines in developing countries, the GAVI Board announced on Thursday, November 17.

If negotiations to secure a sustainable price from manufacturers are successful and countries can demonstrate their ability to deliver the vaccines, up to two million women and girls in nine countries could be protected from cervical cancer by 2015.

Responding to projected demand from 30 countries and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations, the Board also agreed to open a funding window for vaccines against the rubella virus, which threatens pregnancies and child health. The plan is to reach 588 million children by 2015.

“These two initiatives have huge potential impact for women and families in the developing world,” said Seth Berkley MD, CEO of GAVI, which supports seven other vaccines.

“The HPV vaccine is critical to women and girls in poorer countries because they usually do not have access to screening to prevent cervical cancer and treatment taken for granted in richer nations. Today, we have taken deliberate first steps to correct this inequity,” he added.

The GAVI Board also said it will consider funding a vaccine against Japanese encephalitis once an appropriate vaccine is prequalified by WHO. The Board also said it looked forward to the development of an appropriate conjugate vaccine against typhoid. 

During the two-day meeting in Dhaka, the Board also reviewed progress on the roll out of pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines, approved a new supply and procurement strategy, discussed new options for results-based funding and tailored solutions for countries with large numbers of unvaccinated children.

“The decisions taken today will contribute to GAVI’s mission to save millions of lives and protect people’s health,” said Dagfinn Høybråten, Chair of the GAVI Alliance Board. "We are helping countries accelerate access to life-saving vaccines and increasing the number of innovative ways to ensure the world’s children have equal access to immunisation.

Highly transmissible, HPV causes approximately 275,000 cervical cancer deaths each year, of which 88% occur in developing countries. Experts say this figure could increase to 430,000 by 2030 if action is not taken. Safe and effective HPV vaccines may prevent 70% of cervical cancer cases. HPV also causes other more rare cancers in both men and women.

Addressing the GAVI Board on 15 November at an event organised by the Bangladeshi Health Ministry, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged the Alliance, other global health partners and the pharmaceutical industry to “deliver the promise of a future free from the threat of cervical cancer to millions of young women thanks to the HPV vaccine.”

“Investing in their health and their future is the best investment we can make,” Mr Ban added, a year after he launched his Every Women Every Child strategy which GAVI pledged to support with vaccines including HPV and rubella.

GAVI-funded rubella vaccines will be combined for easy delivery with measles vaccines in a single measles-rubella (MR) shot, supporting the global measles immunisation effort. If contracted by pregnant women, rubella can lead to multiple severe birth defects that cause lifelong disabilities. Some 90,000 birth defects occur each year in GAVI-eligible countries, equivalent to 80% of the global burden. It can also lead to miscarriage and stillbirth.

New WHO data released at the Board confirmed that, since its creation in 2000, GAVI has helped immunise 325 million children and has supported countries to prevent more than 5.5 million premature deaths.

Since GAVI began introducing support for pneumococcal vaccines in December 2010, more than three million children have been immunised. Another 10 million are expected to receive the vaccine in 2012 helping protect them against the leading cause of pneumonia. By the end of 2012, an estimated 4.8 million additional children will have received the rotavirus vaccine, protecting them from rotavirus diarrhoea, another leading cause of vaccine-preventable child mortality.

Today’s announcements strengthen GAVI’s ambition to avert close to four million future deaths by 2015 through immunisation, an investment that helps build healthy communities and propels development.

The GAVI Board’s host country Bangladesh has successfully boosted its routine immunisation rates to reach 95% of infants. With support from donors, the country has driven under-five child mortality rates down by nearly two thirds between 1990 and 2009. 

 

ACS Journalism Fellow Pens Column on Cancer in Africa

On October 5 Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple Computers died of pancreatic cancer. Earlier, on September 25 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Wangari Mataai, had died of ovarian cancer.  The death of the duo has once again thrown into international focus the growing case of cancer in the world.

ACS Journalism Fellow Olayinka Oyegbile writes for the Nation.  He submitted this news report from his native Nigeria on November 9th.

Lagos, Nigeria — There are thousands of other less known people who are dying or have died of similar ailment around the world whose cases were not reported. The World Health Organisation (WHO) as a way of drawing attention to the growing rate of this non-communicable disease has declared October as breast cancer awareness week. However, the growing cases are raising concern across the world. Last month the United Nations held a high level meeting of heads of governments and presidents on non-communicable diseases. The essence of the meeting was to raise concern over the disease.

Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, the deputy secretary general of the United Nations.  ACS Photo

Listed among major cancer risk factors are tobacco smoking, alcohol, lack of exercise, change in lifestyles, among others. The issue of tobacco smoking has been tackled by the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which through the World Health Organisation(WHO) has brought out the first global health treaty regulating tobacco smoking, sales and advertising across the world. Through the FCTC it is hoped that sale and consumption of tobacco could be regulated for the safety of the general populace.  

With this achieved, many are wondering when the growing menace of alcohol is going to receive the same regulation. In Nigeria for instance, drinking spots are springing up and more citizens are having access to alcohol thus raising the volume of the drinks consumed. Recently, Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, while addressing journalists at the world body’s headquarters in New York in listing the easiest way to curb the spread of cancer said,  “The best buys for population-wide interventions include tobacco-control measures, including raising taxes and bans on advertising and smoking in public places; raising taxes on alcohol and enforcing bans on alcohol advertising.”

The ban on the direct advertising of tobacco has been achieved. However, the advertising of alcohol is still a far cry. In fact, no campaign on it has started at all. Most alcoholic drinks today associate their drinks to sports. Sports’ advertising is great for them. This is raising concerns among cancer control experts who feel it is a dangerous direction that the world is heading to.

Alcohol, according to Prof Femi Williams, a renowned cancer expert is a risk factor that should not be ignored. He added, “Alcohol is responsible for large proportion of the health-care burden in almost all populations and its continued use also shortens the onset of heart disease, stroke, cancers, and liver cirrhosis.”

At the UN high level meeting held last month on non communicable diseases, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon while addressing the forum also stressed the importance of curbing alcohol consumption as a way of checking the incidence of cancer. He said, “We should encourage individuals to make the smart choices that will protect their health.  Exercise, eat well, limit alcohol consumption and stop smoking.”

He observed that if the world came together to tackle non-communicable diseases, “we can do more than heal individuals — we can safeguard our very future. We must act together to carry out its provisions and bring non-communicable diseases into our broader global health and development agenda.”

In Nigeria with the growing popularity of drinking joints which are opened indiscriminately at street corners, barbing and hair dressing salons, car wash garages etc the epidemic of cancer may not be too far off.

 

Africa Cancer Centre to the rescue

After the death of former President Umaru Yar’ Adua the International Cancer Centre which was conceived by his wife Turai seems to be in limbo.

The fund raising event that was done for the centre at which billions of naira was collected has become stunted as nothing has been heard about the centre.

This has led many cancer patients in the country to be going through a lot of trauma and spending lots of money to get treatment. However, cancer patients may soon smile as the Africa Cancer Centre, the brain child of Prof Femi Williams is soon to take off in Nigeria. The Centre in the 2011 budget got N400m voted for it. This is expected to assist in its establishment and hasten the care and research into cancer across the continent as the centre is projected to serve the African continent.   

Prof Williams who is the first African Scholar-in-Residence of the National Cancer Institute, in Bethesda Maryland USA, studied has produced lung cancer in rats using silica (sand) transformed cells in vitro.

His wealth of experience is to be put at works at the ACC when it fully takes off.

ACS Collaborates with Partners in Northeast Brazil During "Pink October"

English synopsis of Portuguese Blog that follows:

ACS NGO collaborators in the city of Fortaleza, Ceará, in Northeastern Brazil organized an unprecedented mobilization for breast cancer advocacy as part of the local Pink October Movement.  The organizations leading these initiatives are Associação Rosa Viva, Associação dos Amigos do Crio (Assocrio), Grupo Amar, and Toque de Vida, which are memebers of the Brazilian Breast Cancer Coalition and ACS project grantees.   These NGOs collaborated with the Instituto do Câncer do Ceará (ICC), the Fortaleza Municipal Health Council, and the Fundação Maria Carvalho Santos (Teresina, Piauí) to organize a series of breast cancer awareness and advocacy initiatives including Public hearings with political representatives, public lectures, the lighting of local monuments pink, and a breast cancer awareness walk.  On October 29 th  advocates also organized awareness and screening activities targeting underserved fishing communities in the nearby municipality of Mucuripe.  This initiative included a boat   race using Jangadas—traditional fishing sailboats—adorned with pink sails, lectures about breast cancer early detection, and opportunities for mammographic screening and follow up care.

A Fortaleza do Outubro Rosa

Cristina Câmara Consultora em Advocacy da American Cancer Society (ACS) no Brasil

Fortaleza, Brasil —  *Os Bonecos Gigantes originalmente estão presentes na tradição do Carnaval pernambucano, mas já foram incorporados a atividades de rua por diferentes movimentos sociais, especialmente no Nordeste do Brasil.  

Os Bonecos trazem um apelo cultural familiar à população e facilitam a transmissão de informações educativas de forma bem humorada. “Sr.SUS” e “Dona Saúde” são os nomes dos Bonecos presentes na Caminhada do Outubro Rosa, em Fortaleza, normalmente utilizados nas intervenções sociais junto às comunidades.No último mês de outubro tive a oportunidade de acompanhar o final dos trabalhos organizados por várias entidades que atuam com câncer de mama em Fortaleza, capital do Ceará, região Nordeste do Brasil. Entre elas, quatro associações que têm sido um exemplo nas relações de parceria construídas, inclusive, entre elas próprias. Associação Rosa Viva, Associação dos Amigos do Crio (Assocrio), Grupo Amar e Toque de Vida vêm trabalhando de forma articulada no Ceará e estão iniciando um projeto com apoio financeiro da ACS – “Vitoriosas em Ação” –, no escopo do investimento realizado para fortalecer a Federação Brasileira de Instituições Filantrópicas de Apoio à Saúde da Mama (Femama).  A iluminação de monumentos e as fotos de mulheres de camisetas rosa nos jornais, já são identificadas pela população brasileira. O que ainda se conhece pouco é a preparação prévia e a extensão do trabalho e das articulações realizadas para que se chegue aos acontecimentos que se tornam notícias.A programação do Movimento Outubro Rosa – nome atribuído pela coalizão de instituições cearenses – foi bastante ampla e variada, perpassando eventos praticamente diários durante todo o mês de outubro. Desde 2009, o Movimento Outubro Rosa é organizado pelas quatro associações mencionadas acima e, no ano de 2011, contou ainda com a participação do Instituto do Câncer do Ceará (ICC).A Programação Oficial foi pré-lançada no mês de setembro, tendo ao menos nove instituições de saúde como públicos-alvo, desde o Conselho Municipal de Saúde de Fortaleza até os serviços de oncologia, públicos e privados, com o objetivo de envolver públicos e instituições relevantes no enfrentamento da situação do câncer de mama em Fortaleza, e por extensão no estado do Ceará. Também foram realizadas audiências públicas na Câmara de Vereadores de Fortaleza e na Assembleia Legislativa do Ceará, que possibilitaram a participação de uma das organizadoras do Movimento Outubro Rosa como expositora, apresentando a situação do câncer de mama, além de ressaltar a importância desse Movimento.  Entretanto, a vasta programação oficial não foi suficiente. As organizações realizadoras elaboraram uma Programação Paralela direcionada a intervenções corpo-a-corpo, ou seja: palestras, panfletagens, blitz educativa e atrações artísticas e culturais para sensibilizar a população e poder veicular sua mensagem, de forma mais direta, sobre a necessidade da detecção precoce do câncer de mama. Grande parte dessa agenda paralela está em sintonia com as atividades do projeto “Vitoriosas em Ação”. Além disso, foi realizada uma caravana para municípios do interior do estado – ‘Rota Kombi Rosa’, além de atividades voltadas à comunidade de pescadores, que por si só mereceria um relato específico. *A Caminhada do Outubro Rosa 2011, realizada em 30 de outubro, contou com o apoio do Instituto Avon. Reuniu em torno de cinco mil pessoas, majoritariamente mulheres – várias com câncer de mama – sob uma temperatura de 32º graus. Além da presença de diversos municípios do interior, também é importante destacar a Fundação Maria Carvalho Santos, de Teresina, Piauí, demonstrando solidariedade e sintonia no trabalho desenvolvido no Nordeste.   

A população de 8.448.055 habitantes corresponde a 15,91% da população nordestina e 4,43% da população brasileira.

A concentração populacional está na capital, Fortaleza, que agrega 28,97% da população do estado.

De acordo com o Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística, 19% da população cearense é analfabeta.

Um desafio à criatividade nas ações educativas, especialmente quando dirigidas à população de baixa renda e aos municípios do interior do estado.  

No que se refere à situação do câncer de mama, a partir das instituições conveniadas com o Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), os dados da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Fortaleza registram a realização de 41.640 exames de mamografia, em 2010, e 37.007, entre janeiro e outubro de 2011 (3.304 a mais do que a quantidade no mesmo período de 2010).

Esse aumento provavelmente reflete, por um lado, a melhoria na qualidade do registro de dados, por outro, a maior demanda por parte das mulheres, em decorrência de intervenções e atividades informativas e educativas desenvolvidas pelas organizações da sociedade civil. 

Quantidade de mamografias realizadas em Fortaleza Ano Quantidade 2010 2011 (jan.-out.) TotalNúmero de mamografias realizadas 41.640 37.007 78.647

Número de mamografias de seguimento 12.479 10.700 23.179  

*A jangada é o símbolo cearense por excelência. Cantadas em verso e prosa, as jangadas possibilitam a atividade da pesca e, mais recentemente, até passeios turísticos. Estive presente somente nos dois penúltimos dias das programações do Movimento Outubro Rosa – Fortaleza, mas foi possível observar a dinâmica, o envolvimento e a recepção da população. No dia 29 de outubro, foi organizada uma atividade na comunidade de pescadores do Mucuripe, local conhecido pelo mercado de peixes e ancoradouro das jangadas que chegam trazendo a pesca diária de peixes e frutos do mar. A atividade foi realizada em uma pequena igreja – Igreja de São Pedro dos Pescadores, no Mucuripe. Note-se que na programação paralela do Movimento Outubro Rosa estava inserida a iluminação e a panfletagem em igrejas, nos dias dos santos padroeiros comemorados em outubro. Uma atenção importante do Movimento à cultura local e a espaços que aglomeram pessoas, especialmente mulheres.Na Igreja de São Pedro dos Pescadores, a ação foi dirigida, inclusive porque paralelamente estava-se dialogando com os pescadores que aceitaram navegar em suas jangadas, acompanhando a Caminhada do Outubro Rosa no dia seguinte. As atividades incluíram palestras de duas mastologistas, com informações precisas e veiculadas de forma extremamente simples para as ouvintes, muitas delas mulheres de pescadores e/ou católicas praticantes na referida igreja. Também foram feitas outras apresentações, contando com a presença dos Bonecos Gigantes e uma confraternização ao final. Após as palestras, as mulheres que atendiam aos pré-requisitos estabelecidos, receberam vales-mamografia que lhes dava o direito de realizar a mamografia gratuitamente, no período de um mês, em dois locais de referência em Fortaleza: o Centro Integrado de Oncologia (Crio) e o Instituto do Câncer do Ceará (ICC), que assumiram o compromisso não só de realizar os exames, mas de acompanhar as mulheres, de acordo com os resultados dos mesmos. A mesma dinâmica foi repetida no dia seguinte, após a Caminhada do Outubro Rosa. No geral, foram distribuídos em torno de 200 vales-mamografia. Na comunidade de pescadores, um aprendizado. Sabedoria. Palavra às vezes esquecida ou associada ao saber letrado, instruído. Ledo engano. A sabedoria é a capacidade de discernir, compreender e passar adiante seu conhecimento; característica de um líder nato. Foi o que presenciei no diálogo entre Raimundo e Valéria, cada um no seu espaço, mas ambos, líderes natos. Ele organizou os 28 pescadores que vestiram as camisetas rosa e estiveram presentes nas sete jangadas, acompanhando a Caminhada do Outubro Rosa pelo mar. Ela, uma liderança do Movimento Outubro Rosa, que acertou todos os detalhes referentes às pinturas das velas das jangadas, ajuda de custo para os pescadores, horários, pontos de saída, fotos, etc. etc., mas principalmente, através de Raimundo, conseguiu sensibilizar os pescadores para o sentido do evento. Ao final da Caminhada era nítida a sensação de terem feito parte da mobilização do Outubro Rosa, especialmente com a importante incumbência de apresentarem o símbolo cearense: a jangada. E, claro, também foi negociado um trabalho posterior direcionado aos homens, informando sobre o câncer de próstata, ainda alvo de preconceito por vários deles.Por fim, além do envolvimento profissional, do aprendizado constante com as mulheres que estão vivendo com câncer de mama – muitas vezes em situações-limite, mas sem perder a garra – e com diferentes grupos e regiões brasileiras, é sempre bom estar em Fortaleza. Uma das capitais turísticas mais procuradas no Nordeste, que resiste na preservação de sua natureza, com belas praias, excelente pesca, culinária e frutas tipicamente brasileiras como o caju. Muita saúde a todas as cearenses para que possam desfrutar bem dos prazeres da vida cotidiana! *Jangadas rosas ao mar seguiram a Caminhada do Outubro Rosa 2011, em Fortaleza

Referências

• CEARÁ EM MAPAS 2010. Secretaria de Planejamento e Gestão do Governo do Estado do Cearáhttp://www2.ipece.ce.gov.br/atlas/
• IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatísticawww.ibge.gov.br 
• Movimento Outubro Rosa 2011 – Programação Oficialhttp://assocrio.org.br/noticias105-movimento-outubro-rosa-2011
• Outubro Rosa – Fortaleza, 2011http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FFcWXZgVyx8&feature=colike
• SMS – Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Fortaleza [Saúde da Mulher]www.sms.fortaleza.ce.gov.br 

*Fotos de Juliano Moura

ACS Joins Mexican Partner to Raise Awareness of Breast Cancer

Monterrey, Mexico — The American Cancer Society is partnering with a Mexican organiztion to raise   awareness of breast cancer.  Since 2002, Cimab has been working toward reducing breast cancer mortality through education, information, patient services and advocacy. Throughout October,  Cimab and other parnters has organized 50 breast cancer talks and will disseminate information on the importance of early detection. In Monterrey, the organization lit the Atirantado bridge and screened the documentary "Un paso, una cumbre" which follows seven cancer survivors as they conquer the mountain, Pico de Orizaba with their family and friends. www.cimab.org.

Alessandra Durstine, ACS vice president of global advocacy (picured left) and Maria Elena Maza, ACS Mexico Manager, marked World Breast Cancer Awareness day by participating in the lighting of the Mexican National Monument, Castillo de Chapultepec.

Mexico's President Felipe Calderon gave the keynote address speaking about the great burden of breast cancer on the Mexican economy, society and families. He was joined by his wife, Margarita Zavala, a longtime breast cancer awareness advocate and supporter of ACS and grantee Fundacion Cimab.

The new Minister of Health, Salomon Chertorivski emphasized the Mexican government's support for universal access to treatment and vowed to increase the coverage of screening programs throughout the country.

Alessandra Durstine spoke about the ACS Global Cancer Ambassador program and the goals as follow up to the United Nations High Level Meeting on Non-communicable Disease.

Cultivating a New Generation of African Leaders in Tobacco Control

 “This is my first participation to a workshop that analyses and explains key FCTC articles. This has deepened my knowledge on the subject and provided me with more reasons to commit to tobacco control in my country."

—Paul Ebusu, Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse in Uganda

Masaka, Uganda – The Uganda National Tobacco Control Association (UNTCA) hosted a 4-day tobacco control leadership capacity-building workshop from September 28 to October 1, 2011 in Masaka, Uganda.
The workshop aimed to “identify and support a new generation of leaders in tobacco control and equip them with skills and resources for effective advocacy in the country.” Sponsored and co-facilitated by the Africa Tobacco Control Consortium (ATCC), the training gathered 25 Ugandan tobacco control stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, World Health Organization (WHO), civil society organizations, journalists, and staff of the newly created Centre for Tobacco Control in Africa (CTCA). Issues discussed at the training included guidelines on the Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) provisions on: smoke free public places (art.8), tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship (art.13), packaging and labeling (art.11), and protecting tobacco control measures from tobacco industry interference (art.5.3). In addition, facilitators presented examples of key features of what constitutes comprehensive and effective tobacco control law, techniques for effective coalition-building and use of media advocacy. “This is the beginning of a series of three leadership capacity building trainings that the ATCC will facilitate between now and December 2011”, said Dr. Ebeh Kodjo Fabrice, Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Tobacco Control in Africa (ACTA) and one of the co-facilitators. According to him, the participants’ commitment during the sessions highly contributed to the success of the workshop. Dr. Possy Mugyenyi, CTCA Center Manager, said knowledge-sharing efforts between participants, as well as the multi-stakeholder aspect of the training were remarkable. He believes it represents the start of a fruitful collaboration between CTCA, ATCC, UNTCA and other tobacco control stakeholders in Uganda and beyond. The CTCA was also given the opportunity to report on a tobacco control capacity assessment carried out in Uganda in July 2011. While a few participants had advanced tobacco control knowledge, others were newly exposed to the rationale for tobacco control in sub-Saharan Africa. Paul Ebusu, a participant representing PADA-Uganda (Prevention of Alcohol and Drug Abuse – Uganda), expressed his satisfaction: “This is my first participation to a workshop that analyses and explains key FCTC articles. This has deepened my knowledge on the subject and provided me with more reasons to commit to tobacco control in my country”. The Masaka training also created an opportunity for the UNTCA to review its objectives and strengthen its human resources capacity. “We will, within the next coming weeks, strategize on how to strengthen UNTCA to be ready to carry out the activities spelled out in the three year action plan developed at the end of the workshop”, said Gilbert Muyambi, Executive Director of UNTCA. This action plan for Uganda covers three central objectives including enhancing civil society capacities and advocating for the enactment of a tobacco control policy in the country. Dr. Ebeh also announced that the second leadership capacity building training was planned to be hosted by Congo-Brazzaville around mid-November and the third by Senegal at a later date.

Global Bridges Offers Scholarship Advancing Tobacco Control in sub-Saharan Africa

Scholarship Application for Global Bridges-AORTIC Preconference Workshop on Tobacco Use and Dependence Treatment to be held on Tuesday, 29 November 2011 in Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, Egypt —  The Global Bridges AFRO region is pleased to announce the availability of a limited number of travel scholarships to Cairo, Egypt to attend a preconference workshop on Tobacco Use and Dependence Treatment hosted by Global Bridges and immediately preceding the AORTIC 2011 International Cancer Conference.  

Each scholarship will cover the workshop registration, which includes meals and proceedings, an economy class return air ticket and accommodation for two nights (27th and 28th November). Due to the high variability in travel costs, Global Bridges will book the air tickets and hotel rooms of the awardees. 

Background and Objectives

Tobacco control is relatively new in Africa, as in many African countries the tobacco burden is still low.  However, the estimated prevalence of tobacco smoking in population subgroups in a number of countries is above 20% and is growing. Further to this, about 25% of the TB mortality in some parts of the region has been attributed to tobacco smoking. Tobacco use is also the only risk factor common to the four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Hence tobacco control also has a prominent role in the fight against NCDs in the AFRO region.  It is therefore important to arrest the growth of tobacco dependence before it spreads further. Global Bridges fills this important need for a well-coordinated, global, science-based initiative that mobilizes the global community of health care providers to make a population impact on tobacco use through treatment and advocacy.

 The mission of Global Bridges is to create and mobilize a global network of healthcare providers and organizations dedicated to advancing effective tobacco dependence treatment and advocating for effective tobacco control policy.

 The workshop is designed for the participants to reach the following learning objectives:

• Know the local and global (WHO FCTC) policy initiatives for tobacco control.

• Understand the basics of nicotine dependence and pharmacotherapy.

• Understand the basics of behavioural therapy for tobacco use cessation.

• Know the evidence-base for effectiveness of providers’ initiated behavioural and pharmacological interventions.

• Recognize the challenges of implementation of treatment interventions and innovative ways to navigate through these challenges.

Who should apply?

Eligible applicants are health care providers (HCPs) who are in contact with tobacco users and are providing tobacco use and dependence treatment. Also eligible are those directly involved with policy development related to treatment and tobacco control policy. These HCPs include physicians, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists, counselors, etc. Applicants should be from the English-speaking countries of the sub-Saharan Africa and demonstrate, in writing, a willingness to train other HPCs in their home countries. We encourage applicants to plan to attend the AORTIC conference at their own expense, if at all possible to stay the extra days, following the preconference workshop. Please visit http://www.aortic2011.org/aortic/ for more information.

How to apply

All participants will be required to submit a completed application form and a CV (max 3 pages) with names and email addresses of two contactable referees. These documents and queries should be sent to Joyce Jakavula via email at GB.AORTIC@gmail.com or fax to +27 86 511 6622 by Friday, 07 October 2011.

APPLICATION FORM

APPLICANT

 Contact Information Title 

(Dr /Ms/Mr/etc.)

First name

Family name

Medical or other specialty

Email address

ORGANIZATION

Legal name of organization where you work

Type of Organization (Medical Center, Government, other?)

YOUR WORK IN TOBACCO DEPENDENCE TREATMENT

1.  Describe your current work in tobacco dependence treatment:

 

2.  # tobacco-dependent patients seen/or you could potentially see weekly (average):

 

3.  Have you and/or your organization participated actively in supporting tobacco control policy (e.g. legislation) in your country?  If yes, please briefly describe these activities.

 

 

 

 

 

4. How would your participation in the training session benefit tobacco control in your country?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KEY ELEMENTS OF NATIONAL TREATMENT SYSTEM (Circle one response)

Does your country have an official treatment policy? Yes         No

Has your country published or is planning to soon publish National guidelines for treatment of tobacco dependence? Yes         No

If yes, year of publication:

Is there a designated Government official in charge of tobacco dependence treatment? Yes         No

Does your country offer a free national quitline? Yes         No

Does your country have a national treatment system for tobacco dependence? Yes         No

Is it easy for patients to get help for their tobacco dependence from their primary care physician? Yes         No

Is NRT available in your country? Yes         No

Is Bupropion available for smoking cessation in your country? Yes         No

Is Varenicline available for smoking cessation in your country? Yes         No

Is notrriptyline available for smoking cessation in your country? Yes         No

Is clonidine available for smoking cessation in your country? Yes         No

Is cytisine available for smoking cessation in your country? Yes         No

Are smoking cessation medications reimbursed or free to users? Yes

Partially

Not at all

Is behavioural support reimbursed or free to users? Yes

Partially

Not at all

Are health professionals reimbursed for time spent on smoking cessation? Yes 

Partially

Not at all

Would you be planning to extend your stay to attend the AORTIC conference on your cost?     Yes         No

Other notes on tobacco dependence treatment in my country: 

 

 

 

I, the undersigned, hereby confirm that the information given in this application form is both true and correct.

Full name: _______________________________________

 

Signature:   _______________________________________

Date: _______________________________________

Dr. John Seffrin Featured in Voice of America Report on UN High-level Meeting on NCDs

New York City — Heads of state and government representatives assembled at the United Nations this week to address the emerging threat of non-communicable diseases worldwide. One of those so-called "NCDs" is cancer.  For those whose lives have already been affected somehow by this deadly disease, the attention was long overdue.

The United Nations says this is a critical moment - and a lack of action on non communicable diseases, or "NCDs," could pose a threat to global development

"You have the power to make sure that your development is moving on a good path. We must act now with a sense of urgency," noted World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan.

NCDs include diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases.  For John Seffrin, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, this week was historic.

"There are other issues going on out there but the one that stole the show is the interest to the NCDs," said Seffrin.  "Two, it's the recognition that if we don't intervene, that' ll be calamitous. The cumulative economic output loss over the next few years could be as much as $47 trillion."

A huge amount, comprising millions of individual losses. Those stories can be found in all countries, told by people from all walks of life. Seffrin, for example, lost his grandmother to colon cancer and his mother to leukemia.  His wife is also a breast cancer survivor.

"She is coming onto her 7th anniversary. Her seventh new birthday. She will never die of that breast cancer because it was detected early," said Seffrin.

Vera Golik came to New York from Brazil.  This week was an opportunity for her to showcase a project dear to her heart.  An exhibition of her husband's photographs of breast cancer survivors illustrates how important the human touch is in dealing with all phases of cancer. Her inspiration?

"I received a call my sister and my brother the same week had cancer. My brother had lymphoma and my sister had breast cancer.  [A] few months later, my mother had cancer too," said Golik.

Although it was devastating, she says the one thing that helped them get through the ordeal was support from friends and family.

"Give a hug, a phone call, stay beside them," added Golik.  "They know we are together in this fight and they will win. The winning is not dying, because we all going to die some day. It's how we pass this as a warrior."

Lance Armstrong won the Tour de France seven times, more than any other cyclist.  But his most important victory was against testicular cancer. After all these years, he says the most important thing for cancer survivors like him is to tell their stories.

"What we are asking people to do on a daily basis through social media or through our own outreaches, share your story, be proud of that and represent that movement of people we are all part of 28 million people," said Armstrong.

Armstrong's cancer support network, livestrong.org, has been working to improve the lives of those affected by the disease.  And as this video shows, other non-communicable diseases are taking a toll.

A total of 36 million people died from NCDs in 2008 - 200,000 from cancer in Brazil; in Germany, about 25,000 from diabetes; in China, 3.2 million from cardiovascular diseases; 108,000 Ethiopians from chronic respiratory disease and the list goes on.

The U.N. declaration on chronic diseases sets a new agenda in the fight to reduce the numbers.

 

UN High-level Meeting on NCDs: Final Political Declaration Adopted Unanimously

United Nations — After many months of hard work and effective advocacy from people around the globe, the United Nations held its first ever High-level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) in New York City on Sept. 19 and 20. On the first day, world leaders unanimously adopted the Political Declaration on NCDs, acknowledging the global burden and threat of NCDs and their impact on the social and economic development in all countries. Recommendations include promoting healthier diets, increased access to cancer vaccines and cancer screening and tobacco-free workplaces.

A special thank you to our Global Cancer Ambassadors from our June meetings in New York. This success would not have been possible without their tireless advocacy efforts in their home countries. We had 11 Global Cancer Ambassadors who attended the Meeting as part of their country delegations and 3 Global Cancer Ambassadors, Eva Maria Ruiz from Peru, Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi from India and Orajitt Bumrungskulswat from Thailand, who spoke at the roundtables.Our Global Cancer Ambassador for Africa, Rachel Kitonyo, served as a member of the Civil Society Taskforce established by the President of the General Assembly. American Cancer Society's Chief Executive Officer, John R. Seffrin, PhD, also served as a member of the official United States delegation and spoke at the U.N. Meeting. Read Dr Seffrin's thoughts on the burden of NCDs on his Blog.

More than half of all female deaths in low  and middle income  countries are caused by NCDs. Recognizing the need for a special focus on women’s health issues, the Society co-hosted a side event to address the devastating impact of NCDs on women's health. A new task force was announced at the event to create and shape a gender-based approach to NCD prevention and treatment. At a reception following the event, the First Lady of South Africa, Madame Tobeka Madiba Zuma, was given an award for her global leadership on cancer, NCD, and women's health issues. President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff (represented by the head of Brazil's National Cancer Institute) was given an award for her global leadership on NCDs and for her personal survivorship. Read more about the event on our Blog.

The U.N. Meeting represents an important milestone in NCD control. However, while the Declaration sets out global commitments on actions related to tobacco and cancer, it does not include NCD specific targets. This means that we need to increase our advocacy efforts:

- We need to ensure cancer relevant targets are included in the Global Targets to be set by the WHO and member states in 2012 (process established in the Political Declaration)

- We need to advocate for another High Level meeting in 2014

- We have to work harder on increasing bilateral funding for cancer and NCDs and make sure that cancer and NCDs are effectively integrated into the U.N. Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

For real-time updates on the American Cancer Society's global work become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld Says Decisions Made During UN High-level Meeting Can Change the Face of Global Health

New York — There are few times in life when one gets to watch history being made. Today, September 19th is one of those times.  So begins today's Blog by Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for the national office of the American Cancer Society.  He continues, "I am in New York with a number of colleagues from the American Cancer Society and other committed organizations to observe a UN High Level Meeting which will--at long last--put non-communicable diseases on the international agenda. The impact of the decisions made here over the next two days can indeed change the face of global health forever."  For the full essay, check out Dr. Len's Cancer Blog. 

Dr. Len Lichtenfeld speaks with journalists at Social Good Summit briefing 

ACS and Partners Call for New Approach to Women's Health

Epidemic of Chronic Diseases Threaten Decades of Progress in Developing Countries 

New York City, 19 September – Government, United Nations and civil society leaders today called for a new approach to women’s healthcare to address the devastating impact of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and chronic respiratory diseases in low and middle-income countries. Today, more than half of all female deaths in low and middle income countries are caused by NCDs.    

At an event coinciding with the first-ever UN High-level Meeting on NCDs, leaders issued a stark warning: unless the prevention and treatment of these diseases are integrated into current health programs and policies to tackle the specific risks of women, decades of progress on women’s health could be undermined and programs will fail to meet women’s health needs. 

The event, which was opened by UN Deputy Secretary-General Asha-Rose Migiro,included a panel of global health experts who outlined the challenges and solutions.  Rising rates of obesity, misuse of alcohol, lack of exercise and poor diets are putting millions of women in low and middle incomes countries at risk of chronic illness, disability and premature death. These new diseases threaten to place an unprecedented strain on health systems, women and communities. Women living in countries where reproductive health services are weak, pregnancy-related mortality is high and infectious diseases remain shamefully common, are now also threatened by NCDs. Health systems lack adequate investment in human resources, essential supplies, and infrastructure; leaving women unable to access care that could prevent death and disease throughout their lifetimes.

“We have to ask some tough questions. We have to look hard at poverty, and recognize that too many women are at greater risk of cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease, simply because they are poor,” said the UN Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Asha-Rose Migiro. 

A new task force was announced to help meet the challenges.  Comprised of leading civil society organizations dealing with women’s health, the task force will advocate for a gender-based, lifecycle approach to NCD prevention and treatment. It also aims to expand technical capacity and resources of low and middle-income countries to meet existing and emerging women’s health needs. 

“The threat of NCDs for women in developing countries is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. This task force will further global awareness and expand our ability to meet women’s health needs throughout the developing world,” said John R. Seffrin, PhD, CEO of the American Cancer Society. 

Members of the task force include the American Cancer Society, Family Care International, International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), Jhpiego, PATH, PSI, the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), Women Deliver and the World Heart Federation. The Partnership for Maternal Newborn and Child Health (PMNCH) will work with the task force in a technical advisory role. The group plans to also work closely with the GAVI Alliance and UN Agencies.

The panel of experts said ensuring women’s rights to access to healthcare for these emerging diseases would deliver better health outcomes and galvanize achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Urbanization, gender disparity, poverty, poor education, economic inequities and lack of access to health services were all mentioned as primary causes of NCDs among women. “The same inequities that have plagued some communities and caused unthinkable rates of pregnancy-related mortality are putting women at additional risk for non-communicable diseases,” said Jill Sheffield, President and Founder of Women Deliver. 

Vaccination against the virus that causes cervical cancer and other lifesaving approaches to cervical and breast cancer prevention were identified as critical steps in protecting against escalating and alarming rates of cancer among women. “For Rwanda, the HPV vaccine has become an essential part of our cancer strategy, but also a springboard to reaching out to adolescents and their parents with health messages and services. It’s a win win,” said Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Minister of Health from Rwanda.  

Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI Alliance, described his organization’s goal to offer HPV vaccine at affordable and sustainable prices to countries eligible for its support. “GAVI has already immunized 267 million people against hepatitis B, a major cause of liver cancer, and we are now setting our sights on tackling cervical cancer by making HPV vaccines available to girls in the world’s poorest countries,” said Dr. Berkley. GAVI is working with its partners to further reduce the price of the vaccine.

The vast range of health issues causing early death and disability in developing countries was discussed. “It’s unprecedented to be discussing women and heart disease with leaders of the global health community. However, when you look at the numbers, it’s a discussion that is long overdue,” said Johanna Ralston, CEO of the World Heart Federation.

 
The co-hosts of the event include the American Cancer Society, the GAVI Alliance, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health, PATH, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Women Deliver and the World Heart Federation. 

 

ACS and Partners on Panel Address the Global Smoke-free Worksite

New York City, 19 September — Tobacco use is often an integral part of the daily work of the average employee.  Data suggests that by implementing smoke free work site policies and by forcing employees to smoke less, smoking cessation is easier and often the decrease in smoking at work is both an economic savings and a way to increase safety for people who work in the formal sector.  However, as with most commitments to behavior change, the effort has to be multi sectorial and has to have both an economic and human benefit.  Because of this, this commitment is recruiting members from the government, corporate, non-profit and medical sectors to make this a success.

 
These key issues were the focus of a panel discussion on September 19. The panel is made up of the core members of collaborators who will be making a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Smoke Free Worksites on September 22. This is a recruitment event for additional governments, corporations and NGOs to sign onto this commitment.  This commitment is budget neutral but is expected to save over 5 million dollars for the new partners who go smoke free at work over the next 5 years.

Panelists:

• Dr. Otis  Brawley, CMO, American Cancer Society, How the Non Profit Sector can Assist in Smoke Free Worksite Policy Implementation
• Dr. Richard Hurt, Mayo Clinic, The Medical Hurdles to Cessation and How Smoke Free Work Sites can Break Barriers
• Dr. Howard Koh, Department of Health and Human Services, The Key Elements of Smoke Free Campuses and the Importance of an Integrated Government Approach
• Dr. Scott Ratzan, S VP, Johnson and Johnson, The Corporate Culture and How it Benefits From a Smoke Free Worksite
• Yolanda Williams, CTFK, How Smoke Free Worksites Sets the Stage for Smoke Free Country

 

ACS and Leading Brazilian Cancer Patient Advocacy Organization lead Journalism Symposium

Sao Paulo, Brazil — The American Cancer Society Global Health Programs and the Instituto Oncoguia, a leading cancer non-govermental organization in Brazil, jointly led a journalist symposium on cancer on August 31.  The event aimed to strengthen the patient voice and quality of cancer coverage in the media.  

The journalism symposium drew more than 50 leading national and regional journalists

Participants learned about and discussed cancer epidemiology, policy and legal issues, and the challenges of reporting on health topics and cancer.  Participants heard from experts on the global cancer and NCD burden (Alessandra Durstine and Gustavo Azenha), the impact of cancer in Brazil ( Dr. Rafael Kaliks), breast cancer control barriers in Brazil ( Dr. Sergio Simon ), cancer patient legal rights (Dr. Tiago Farina Matos),  access to radiotherapy (Dr. Carlos Manoel),  and the role of the media in helping the public make informed decisions about health (Dr. Otavio Clark).  Through lectures and roundtable discussions, participants also heard from leading health journalists from the most prominent media outlets in Brazil, including Luis Fernando Correa (Radio CBN and G1), Claudia Collucci (Folha de São Paulo),  Cilene Pereira (Revista Isto É), and Lilian Teles (Rede Globo) who shared their insight into the importance and challenges of improving coverage of cancer and cancer control. 

  Luciana Holz, President of Instituto Oncogui and Alessandra Durstine, American Cancer Society Global Health Programs 

Luciana Holz, President of Instituto Oncogui 

 

Jamaica Reinforces ACS-Driven Global Coverage of NCDs

 

Jamaica's Nationwide News Network 

"Communicating the Non-communicable"

Radio Program:  Healthline

Reporter:  Camelia Guthrie, ACS Journalism Fellow 

Script;

With each heartbeat, blood is sent throughout our bodies, carrying oxygen and nutrients to every cell. Each day, 2-thousand gallons of blood travel through about 60-thousand miles of blood vessels that branch and cross, linking the cells of our organs and body parts.The heart is associated with our well being and our emotions- the most powerful of which is love. So essential is our heart, we cannot live without it.  No wonder there’s so much information about how to maintain a healthy heart.  But what do you do when that heart becomes diseased? 

SFX: Heart Beat – 

Who do you turn to, where do you go and how do you treat not just a diseased heart, but a child with a diseased heart  Stay with us in this the second part in our series on Non-Communicable Diseases dubbed “Communicating the Non-Communicable.”

PSA: Track 1 - SMOKING AROUND KIDS – 

Music: music for healthline –

Heart disease has been and continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the Caribbean and no group, race, colour, creed, gender or status is exempt from it.  Children are just as prone to heart disease as adults and so today we pay particular attention to our little hearts 

CLIP: dr. knox on causes – 

“There are a few conditions which will give rise to abnormal development of the heart in the feotus, one probably most well known cause is German measles. If the mother in the early stage of pregnancy has developed German measles, the virus which causes the illness gets into the feotus and impairs the development of the feotus in terms of development of the brain, the eyes, the heart  and other tissues.”Dr. Knox says this can result in the development of various kinds of heart disease One such is congenital heart disease, which basically means heart disease that’s present at birth.

CLIP: dr. knox on hole in the heart – 

“One type of heart disease which is probably most well known is the baby with the hole in the heart. That results from inadequate development of a structure we call the septum which divides the heart into right and left parts. But in addition to that, there are other abnormalities which will develop, which will present sometimes not very early, maybe first detected in the later childhood and even in adolescence and so of these may even persist into adulthood.” 

SFX: Suspense effects – 

It can be frightening to learn that your child has a congenital heart defect. What’s even more frightening is to learn that your child’s heart defect is as a result of a disease you may have or even worse, your lifestyle  This as alcohol or drug abuse, exposure to industrial chemicals during pregnancy and uncontrolled diabetes can increase the risk of congenital heart malformations

CLIP: dr knox on diabetes and heart- 

“ If the woman is diabetic and the prior to conception the blood sugar levels are not well controlled,  chances are they will not be controlled in the early trimester so to speak then that will also give rise to heart disease. In addition to that, some drugs may, but the truth is, in a number of cases, we never can find the exact cause.”

Dr. Hadley Knox, Chairman of the Heart Foundation of Jamaica.

The other type of heart disease seen in childhood is one which is acquired and results from a condition called rheumatic fever.  We tell you about this and the prevention and treatment for both types of heart disease in children in our next programme when we continue ‘Communicating  the Non-Communicable.”

STINGER

That’s our program for today. Do join us again when we’ll take a further look at NCDS and how you can prevent or treat them. For more information you can visit our website at www.jis.gov.jm and become a fan of the JIS on Facebook or by following JISNEWS on twitter. 

 

ACS Delegation Participates in African Summit Positioning Women's Cancers on the Global Agenda

 

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — The “First World Summit on Women’s Cancer” opened Thursday September 1 at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia’s capital city.  A three-person delegation from the American Cancer Society (ACS)  joined African Ministers of Health, African political leaders, international organizations, medical professionals, and academics, with the goal of building an African strategy to position women’s cancer on the global health agenda.  

 ACS Program Manager Kiti Kajana with ACS Volunteer Haskell Ward and ACS Managing Director Ann McMikel with ACS Global Cancer Ambassador Wondu Bekele. Mr. Bekale. Their participation in this week's meeting reinforces ACS' on-going support for women by developing advocacy and capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries.

Led by the Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, organizers aim to generate political and financial support for prevention and control of breast and cervical in Africa. The two-day gathering advances the U.N. High-level Meeting on Non-communicable Disease (NCDs) September 19- 20 in New York.  The meeting complements long-term U.N. initiatives to improve the health and lives of girls and women worldwide. 

ACS Putting Women and Cancer on the Global Agenda  

Collaborating with cancer-fighting organizations worldwide, ACS is working to reduce the cancer burden for women in this century. This year, 2011 is critical to that goal. In partnership with other global health organizations, ACS is driving attention to cancer and other NCDs as a priority for women’s health and development in the lead-up to the first-ever U.N. High-level Meeting on NCDs. 

Cervical Cancer Headline Facts 

• Cervical cancer was the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide, and the leading cause of cancer death in Africa and Southeast Asia in 2008. That year, cervical cancer caused an estimated 275,100 deaths. 
• Ninety percent of these deaths occurred in developing parts of the world, where access to screening and treatment are often non-existent and adolescent girls are not receiving vaccination for the human papilloma virus (HPV), the primary risk factor for cervical cancer. 
• The HPV vaccine can prevent up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases, and cost-effective procedures are available to detect and treat cervical pre-cancer.  

To redress the rise in cervical cancer, ACS has spearheaded programs in India, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. The Society aims to promote public awareness about cervical cancer, educate health professionals, and improve access to screening. The American Cancer Society collaborates with PATH and the Cervical Cancer Action Coalition with a shared goal of preventing cancer globally.

Breast Cancer Headline Facts

• Breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer death for women worldwide in 2008.  That year, 458,400 breast cancer deaths were recorded despite the disease being largely treatable through early detection. 
• There were an estimated 1.4 million new breast cancer cases in 2008.
• Breast cancer mortality over the past 25 years has decreased in some North American and European countries due to early detection through mammography and improved treatment; in contrast, mortality rates are climbing in many developing countries given a lack of access to affordable treatment and early detection.

The Global Cancer Burden for Women

 More than 20,000 people die from cancer each day and half of these are women. The International Agency for Research on Cancer reports there were 12.7 million new cancer cases and 7.6 million cancer deaths in 2008, and the numbers are projected to nearly double by 2030. Cancer is a leading cause of death for women worldwide, and will continue to rise unabated unless action is taken to prevent it. Yet, gender inequality “remains one of the most difficult goals almost everywhere,” according to the U.N. This is especially true in developing countries, where women are disproportionately affected by disease and poverty; 70 percent of the world’s poor are female, and many are deprived of basic rights including medical care. The situation becomes more dire when a woman’s key role as caregiver is considered; in many families and communities, the loss of a wife or mother to cancer is devastating. 

Rising cancer rates among women in low- and middle-income countries is a result of the lack of access to information about cancer, prevention, early detection, testing, and treatment. ACS recognizes that although our understanding of cancer and how to intervene is unprecedented, cancer continues to be a leading cause of death largely because of lack of application of known interventions. A comprehensive response that promotes prevention, early detection, and treatment is critical to saving lives and alleviating needless suffering, and will help reduce the cancer burden for women, their families, and children. 

 

Bangladesh Joins ACS' Global News Coverage of NCDs

THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS

Aminul Islam Sujon

The UN Summit on NCDs 

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) including the most common cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetics and chronic respiratory diseases are increasing day by day around the world. Such NCDs are now a major global health burden.

According to the global status report of the World Health Organisation (WHO) on NCDs 2011, NCDs are the leading causes of death in the world, accounting for 63% of global death. Eighty per cent of such death cases occur in the developing countries.

According to Global Facts and Figures of American Cancer Society (ACS), cancer is the cause for more deaths than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) combined. Chronic diseases, according to a report placed at the World Economic Forum, are among one of the three greatest risks to the global economy.

According to the ACS, only cancer takes the greatest global financial toll, among all other diseases. Currently 63% of cancer-related deaths occur in developing countries and it will increase up to 82% by 2030. Sixty three per cent of global death is responsible for NCDs, while only 3.0% of global developmental assistance is allocated for NCD prevention. Eighty per cent of global cancer burden is occurring in developing countries, while 5.0% resources are spent are spending in such countries for cancer prevention. There is an imbalanced situation worldwide, more particularly so in the developing countries, when considered in the context of the NCDs burden versus resources available for their prevention.

Worldwide, the incidence of cancer and other NCDs is on the rise. That is why this is a global issue. In this context, it has been a great initiative in the history of the United Nations (UN) that it is going to hold a high-level meeting on September 19 and 20, 2011 in New York city at its head quarters. The UN General Assembly is the main decision-making body on issues of principles for the UN. It is there that all the UN member-countries have decided to organise the UN NCD summit to focus global attention and agree, on an action plan to address the problem of NCDs. After the opening speech by the President and the Secretary General of the UN, and the presentation by the Director General (DG) of the WHO, the working sessions of summit will start on September 19. Some of the country-head of delegations are also expected to address the opening session of the conference. Then three round-table sessions will be held where three different issues will focus on. These issues include:

1. The rising incidence, developmental and other challenges, social and economic impact of NCDs and their risk factors;

2. Strengthening national capacities as well as appropriate policies to address prevention and control of NCDs;

3. Fostering international cooperation as well as coordination to address NCDs

This high-level meeting will discuss and develop the strategies to address the rising rate of NCD-related death worldwide. It is expected to focus action at many levels through multi-sectoral approaches, and to generate global commitment and momentum.

The NCD is a big burden for Bangladesh, too. According to the WHO fact sheet on NCDs, such diseases account for 70% death cases -- including 30% on account of hearth diseases and stroke and 13%, cancer. Tobacco consumption is the most common cause for the increase of NCDs in Bangladesh. According to WHO study in 2004, tobacco consumption is responsible for eight major NCDs (including cancer, stroke, heart disease, diabetics etc) among 1.2 million people in Bangladesh. A total of 3,82,000 patients lost their physical activeness and 57 thousand cases of death occurred.

While the number of deaths has further increased as the rate of tobacco consumption and also the number of people, in absolute terms, who are used to its consumption, have increased in recent years. In addition, the use of alcohol and other drugs, eating of unhealthy diet and food, physical inactivity etc., are other common causes for the increasing incidence of NCDs.

Now we need to focus more on prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCD) and the UN summit on NCD is a way to focus on inter-related issues globally. Prime Minister Sheik Hasina will join the UN NCD summit.

There is the opportunity for Bangladesh to play an active and leading role at this high level meeting - the UN summit on NCDs. This may facilitate greater international support and cooperation in areas of action for preventing NCD and ensure availability of developmental assistance for the purpose in the future.