The Global Fight Against Cancer

American Cancer Society Hosts the First Africa Cancer Information and Advocacy Initiative Workshop in Accra, Ghana

Johanna Ralston, vice president, Global Strategies, American Cancer Society (second from right), being interviewed by a reporter with Net2 Television, a Ghana television station

On March 26-30, 2009, the American Cancer Society hosted the Africa Cancer Information and Advocacy Initiative Workshop on Cancer Control Planning, an inaugural training event in Accra, Ghana. The workshop convened 42 cancer control advocates from 21 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in four African countries – Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and South Africa – to help them develop successful cancer control programs. The cancer burden in Africa is rising, with about 650,000 people on the continent developing cancer annually. Programs that increase cancer awareness and promote early detection and survivor support programs are urgently needed in Africa, as breast, cervical, liver, prostate and HIV/AIDS-related cancers become more prevalent there. The three-day workshop opened with remarks from Dr. George Amofah, deputy director general, Ghana Health Service, and Johanna Ralston, vice president, Global Strategies, American Cancer Society. Training facilitators assisted NGO participants in the development of evidence-based project proposals for their cancer control programs. Training facilitators who work in the region provided one-on-one feedback to the participants on their draft proposals. By the end of the workshop, participants created detailed action plans for cancer control interventions or campaigns, some of which involve national or regional collaboration between participating organizations. Following the workshop, some of the participants took part in a site visit to a local Ghana cancer treatment center. In addition, Loyce Pace, director, Regional Programs, American Cancer Society met with 15 journalists from Ghana print, television, and radio media outlets to discuss the lack of cancer awareness in Ghana’s government and general public and shared insights from these discussions with workshop participants.

American Cancer Society University Holds Follow-up Training in Hangzhou, China

ACSU scholar from Hangzhou presenting seed grant progress report

An American Cancer Society University (ACSU) training was held in Hangzhou, China, on March 20-23. This training, which follows last year’s ACSU training in Tianjin, China, convened 22 scholars from 13 cancer support groups, including representatives from the UNICEF-China office, Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation, and Hope Society of Taiwan. During the training, there were presentations from nine American Cancer Society seed grant recipients. All of them reported encouraging progress and successful results with their grant projects: For example, Fudan University Cancer Hospital in Shanghai is working to find suitable means of raising breast cancer awareness and providing information about breast cancer screening to their community; so far, more than 60,000 residents have received some type of information on breast cancer through this project. In addition, a Greater China cancer support group discussion at the training focused on some of the challenges and opportunities for cancer control nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in China. The group agreed to work on the development of a Web-based Greater China ACSU alumni network that would facilitate the sharing of best practices and available materials on cancer control in China.

Dr. Judith Mackay Receives BMJ Lifetime Achievement Award

 Dr. Judith L.  Mackay recipient of BMJ Lifetime Achievement Award

The American Cancer Society congratulates Dr. Judith L. Mackay for receiving the BMJ Lifetime Achievement award for her contribution to the fight against tobacco across the world. The BMJ Group Awards, held in association with The Health Foundation, recognize and celebrate excellence in health care around the globe. BMJ is an international peer reviewed medical journal. The ceremony, held in London, was attended by some of the world’s most influential leaders in health care. Dr. Mackay is co-author of the recently released third edition of The Tobacco Atlas, a critical resource produced by the American Cancer Society and World Lung Foundation that graphically depicts the devastating impact tobacco has on an international level. Dr. Mackay serves as senior advisor to the World Lung Foundation and as senior policy advisor to the World Health Organization. She is also a recipient of the American Cancer Society's Luther Terry award for Outstanding Individual Leadership. As a leader in the battle to control tobacco, she was once described by the tobacco industry as "one of the three most dangerous people in the world."

American Cancer Society Assesses Progress of Patient Navigation Program in Mexico

 

Dr. Laura Suchil, Deputy Director at the National Cancer Institute of Mexico

A delegation of American Cancer Society staff, representing the International Affairs Department and Midwest Division, recently visited Mexico to assess the effectiveness of a patient navigation program supported by the Society. The National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INCan) patient navigation program was launched in September 2007 following a fellowship in the United States for Mexican patient navigators hosted by the Midwest Division. The main goal of this pilot program is to support cancer patients and their families by providing information and psycho-social support. In the past year, the program has been able to reach more than 600 patients or family members and has successfully met more than 75 percent of their needs. The network of community resources has also been strengthened as a result of the program, and new sources of funding have been identified. Evaluations of the program indicate high satisfaction among patients, family members, and medical personnel. Given these results, INCan leaders are considering expanding the program, and plans are currently underway to replicate the program in two other regional cancer centers. The American Cancer Society Midwest Division has offered both financial and technical support to make this program possible. Representatives from the Midwest Division that traveled to Mexico included Joenell Henry-Tanner, vice president of Health Disparities; Valeria Waldner, patient navigator; and Dr. Carolina Gonzalez Schlenker, international committee member. 

Oxford Health Alliance Videos Featuring American Cancer Society International Activities

Image from the Oxford Health Alliance video on American Cancer Society international activities released on April 3.

The American Cancer Society is collaborating with the Oxford Health Alliance (OxHA) to produce videos for OxHA’s Web site www.3four50.com that highlight the Society’s international programs and activities. This Web site is part of an OxHA health initiative, an awareness-raising and action-based online social network aimed at preventing chronic disease. Four videos have been posted online so far, with more on the way soon. To view the American Cancer Society-related videos already posted (on February 20, March 6, March 20, and April 3), please visit the 3FOUR50 Video News Web page.