The Global Fight Against Cancer

American Cancer Society Holds Cancer Control Training in Bangkok, Thailand

Cancer training participants and faculty members on a site visit to a community radio station in Thailand's Angthong province. The radio station regularly broadcasts cancer awareness information provided by an American Cancer Society subgrantee.

The American Cancer Society convened 32 representatives from 15 Asian nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) for the 3rd American Cancer Society Asia Regional Cancer Control Program Training November 22-25 in Bangkok, Thailand. This training was generously supported by the Pfizer USA Foundation with matching funds from local Pfizer offices in the region. The purpose of the training, co-hosted by the Chulabhorn Cancer Center (CCC), was to share best practices in organizational, strategic, and program planning, and in resource mobilization. Speakers and training participants shared ideas and information about cancer and tobacco control in Southeast Asia, organizational strategic planning, and volunteerism and fundraising. Training faculty members included Iris Pendergast, senior manager, International Relay For Life®, American Cancer Society; Loyce Pace, director of Regional Programs, Global Health, American Cancer Society; James Bradley of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), and Dr. Saunthari Somasundaram, executive director and honorary general secretary of the National Cancer Society Malaysia. Guest speakers included Dr. Charas Suwannawella, vice president, Chulabhorn Cancer Center; Dr. Thiravud Khuhaprema, director, Thailand National Cancer Institute; the Honorable Eric John, US Ambassador to Thailand; and Dr. Kwanchanit Tantivejkul, an American Cancer Society consultant. Azwar Kamarudin, senior manager, Public Affairs, Pfizer Malaysia, gave a presentation on corporate partnerships, and representatives of Pfizer Thailand Foundation and Pfizer Asia Pacific were also in attendance. The training was featured in Thai and English language stories from several local radio, television, and newspaper organizations.

American Cancer Society Media Awareness Workshop on Tobacco Control in Vietnam Concludes in Ho Chi Minh City

 Participants in the Media Awareness Workshop for a Smoke-free Vietnam in Ho Chi Minh City

On September 19, the American Cancer Society convened about 50 journalists in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, for the second and final part of the Media Awareness Workshop for a Smoke-free Vietnam. This event, organized by the Society and the Vietnam Steering Committee on Smoking and Health (VINACOSH), followed the successful first part of the media workshop, held earlier last month in Hanoi. American Cancer Society experts shared experiences on writing news stories on tobacco control and other health-related topics. The experts described ways in which journalists can capture the reader’s attention and improve health awareness, especially related to tobacco use. Speakers from the Ho Chi Minh School of Public Health, National Youth Newspaper, and Ho Chi Minh Health Services Department shared their success stories on smoke-free policies in the workplace. Vietnamese journalists came away from the workshop with more knowledge on the impact of tobacco use and vowed to disseminate more information on tobacco control to the public. According to the World Health Organization, each year approximately $786 million is spent on cigarettes and 40,000 people die due to smoking-related illnesses in Vietnam.

 

American Cancer Society Holds Media Awareness Workshop on Tobacco Control in Hanoi; First of Two-Part Tobacco Control Program in Vietnam

More than 30 Vietnamese journalists and tobacco control advocates attended the first part of the Media Awareness Workshop for a Smoke-free Vietnam in Hanoi this week. This is the first part of a two-part tobacco control program hosted by the American Cancer Society in Vietnam. The advocates and journalists received media training and heard from a panel of tobacco control and health experts. By the end of this part of the workshop, the journalists developed stories about and interviewed advocates on tobacco control issues in Vietnam.The event was featured on VTV10, a Vietnamese television channel, and featured in Nhan Dan (People), a Vietnamese newspaper.The American Cancer Society team organizing the workshop is now heading for the second part of the training, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City starting September 19.

American Cancer Society Helps to Start New Cancer Control Projects in Thailand and Malaysia

Dr. Vichai Chokevivatt, chairman of the Heart to Heart Foundation Board of Directors (center), presents a pin with an emblem of their foundation to Suteera Nagavajara, Lead Manager, Southeast Asia Program, American Cancer Society (second from left). Others are fellow board members of the Foundation. 

The American Cancer Society recently worked with local consultants and donor agencies in Thailand and Malaysia to get new cancer control grant projects started in the two countries. These projects are part of the American Cancer Society Asia Regional Cancer Control Program, generously supported by the Pfizer USA Foundation with matching funds from local Pfizer offices in the region. Suteera Nagavajara, lead manager, Southeast Asia Program, American Cancer Society, met with three cancer control nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Thailand – Chulabhorn Cancer Center, Heart to Heart Foundation, and the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University – on three new projects they have started to address: national-level research and breast cancer education/awareness campaigns; strengthening national-level patient support networks; and children’s palliative care in northeast Thailand. In Malaysia, Ms. Nagavajara met with a coalition of five NGOs – National Cancer Society Malaysia (NCSM), Hospis Malaysia, Breast Cancer Welfare Association (BCWA), Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation (CARIF), and Malaysian Women’s Action for Tobacco Control and Health (MyWATCH) – which is starting a new grant project to build a cancer resource hub in Malaysia.

American Cancer Society Collaborates with Civil Society Partners in Vietnam to Develop Communications on Tobacco Control Advocacy

Tuyet Ha-Iaconis (second from left), Vietnam program manager, American Cancer Society, meets with colleagues from a Vietnamese tobacco control NGO.

The American Cancer Society recently collaborated with key nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners in Vietnam to help them develop media communications strategies for tobacco control advocacy in the country. Tuyet Ha-Iaconis, Vietnam program manager, American Cancer Society, gathered information from and provided technical assistance to the Vietnam Steering Committee on Smoking and Health (VINACOSH) and other NGOs by evaluating existing plans for media relations and providing suggestions on how available resources in their organizations might be used to pursue those plans. She also presented plans for future trainings for NGOs and journalists on tobacco control advocacy in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. VINACOSH and other health-related organizations in Vietnam want to create a communications plan that allows them to broadly and effectively disseminate tobacco control messages to a national audience. Vietnam does not have smoke-free laws in effect at the national level. Despite a directive from the prime minister in Vietnam establishing smoke-free areas in workplaces, health facilities, schools, and other public places, compliance is weak. VINACOSH and other NGOs intend to use national communications efforts as part of their efforts to gather the support of government leaders, the media, and the general public for the adoption of strong tobacco control laws and the effective implementation of smoke-free environments.

American Cancer Society Conducts Part Two of Training Sessions for NGOs in Manila, Philippines

Manila Training Participants: From left to right: Wawang Setiawan Sukarya (Indonesia), Kiti Kajana, Coordinator- ACS University, Siti Nia Rusad (Indonesia), Charlie Smith, Volunteer - Chair of the Board of the California Division), Margaret Drugay, Volunteer - Great West Division Board of Directors). 
 

The American Cancer Society recently held the second training program for cancer nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as part of its Asia Regional Cancer Control Program. The training program, focused on communications of early detection and patient support project outcomes, was held in Manila, Philippines, from February 22-25. Training highlights included expert feedback on implementation strategies, poster presentations on grant progress, and a project site visit. The training was held in conjunction with an American Cancer Society University (ACSU) for Southeast Asia partners focused on tobacco control advocacy. Sponsoring American Cancer Society divisions, California, Great West, and High Plains, provided volunteers and staff that partnered with local tobacco control experts to teach sessions in how to promote and implement smoke-free workplaces as well as how to influence decision-makers and the public in order to create change. Together, the two events hosted 39 individuals representing cancer control organizations from a total of 10 countries in Southeast Asia. Faculty members from the Philippines included Framework Convention Alliance regional coordinator Dr. Ulysses Dorotheo, prominent journalist Nestor Cuartero, and several city and national government representatives working in cancer or tobacco control. Multiple staff and volunteers from the California, Great West, and High Plains Divisions also served as faculty, including CEO of California Division, Inc., David F. Veneziano. The training programs were co-hosted by American Cancer Society partners in the Philippines, ICANSERVE Foundation and Philippine Cancer Society.

American Cancer Society Prepares for 2009 Activities in Africa and Asia

 Loyce Pace Bass, director of Regional Programs, Suteera Nagavajara, lead manager of Asia Programs and staff members of Hope Society for Cancer Care in Taiwan

 In November 2008, an investigative team consisting of staff members and consultants from the American Cancer Society and lead investigator Professor K. Viswanath of the Harvard School of Public Health visited Nigeria and South Africa to research the public perception of cancer-related messages and to identify barriers and opportunities for promoting cancer information. These visits were preparatory activities for the Africa Cancer Information and Advocacy Initiative, an Oracle-funded initiative which aims to improve awareness of cancer in five African countries: Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania. Research conducted during these visits included interviews with key opinion leaders, interactions with focus groups, and meetings with civil society representatives, health care providers, the media, and government officials in each country. Information obtained from these visits will help inform training, grants, and advocacy opportunities for cancer control organizations in Africa. In addition to these activities in Africa, American Cancer Society staff members travelled to Asia in December of 2008. Loyce Pace Bass, director of Regional Programs, and Suteera Nagavajara, lead manager of Asia Programs, visited Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Manila, Taipei, and Bangkok to meet with consultants and partners for the Asia Regional Cancer Control Program. The trip marked the second year of the Pfizer-funded initiative, which intends to build the capacity of cancer control organizations in five Asian countries. The American Cancer Society will continue to offer seed grants and trainings that will enable Asian partners to improve information and advocacy for early detection and patient support.

American Cancer Society Awarded Grant to Work with Vietnam Businesses on Tobacco Control

The American Cancer Society has been awarded a two-year grant by Atlantic Philanthropies to fight the tobacco burden in Vietnam. The Society will team up with the Vietnam Committee on Smoking and Health (VINACOSH) to develop a national tobacco control media advocacy strategy and build strategic partnerships with community-based groups, the business sector, and the donor community. The project aims to provide the tools to implement tobacco policies in Vietnam and increase the capacity and coordination of the public health community to respond to the burden of tobacco death and disease in Vietnam.

First American Cancer Society Asia Regional Cancer Control Program Training Held in Malaysia

Participants in a breakout session during the training

The American Cancer Society recently held its first training program for cancer nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as part of its Asia Regional Cancer Control Program. The training program, focused on project development and implementation, was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from June 19-22. Twelve scholars from seven cancer control NGOs in Singapore and Thailand participated in the training. One training module addressed behavior change, covering aspects of health education, social marketing, and general communications. Other modules addressed needs assessment and program planning, showing scholars how to identify gaps and improve the quality of their programs. The training culminated in one-on-one sessions with participants eligible to receive grants, providing feedback on their draft proposals. Two Malaysian health experts served as faculty members: Ms. Ranjit Pritam, a breast cancer survivor and president of the Breast Cancer Welfare Association and the Malaysian Breast Cancer Council, and Dr. Ednin Hamzah, chief executive officer/medical director of Hospis Malaysia. Two American Cancer Society staff members also assisted with the training: Loyce Pace Bass, lead manager, Regional Programs, and Arlene Chin, director of Asian Initiatives, in the American Cancer Society’s Eastern Division.

American Cancer Society Works with Malaysian and Philippine Leaders on Breast Cancer Early Detection Projects

Loyce Pace Bass (left), lead manager, Regional Programs, American Cancer Society, with the Honorable Marides Lourdes C. Fernando (right), mayor of Marikina City in the Philippines

On June 21 and 26, American Cancer Society staff met with prominent leaders in Malaysia and the Philippines as part of the launch of two Society-supported grant projects. In the meetings, the mayor of Marikina City in the Philippines, the Honorable Marides Lourdes C. Fernando, and the minister of women, family, and community development in Malaysia, YB Dato' Dr Ng Yen Yen, both committed resources towards local breast cancer early detection projects. These meetings are part of a Pfizer-supported Asia regional cancer control program that focuses on assessing local cancer control policies and programs, building capacity of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and fostering collaborative civil society campaigns. The three-year initiative aims to provide technical assistance for cancer control organizations in five Asian countries.