India’s Poonam Bagai battled colon cancer, Nepal’s medical oncologist Bijesh Raj Ghimire overcame thyroid cancer, Jamaica’s Clover Allen Wilson survived breast cancer.They are among 100-odd such survivors who have turned global cancer ambassadors, each of whom has told his or her story at their respective missions at the United Nations.
The objective is to focus international attention on cancer. “We can, we should and we will conquer cancer” is a campaign by the American Cancer Society.
The United Nations General Assembly will meet on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases on September 19 and 20. John Seffrin, ACS CEO, sees this as a unique opportunity for heads of state to prepare an outcome document with political commitment.
It is the first time the UN has taken up the issue of NCD as a global health priority, says Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, associate professor, head and neck surgery, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad attended a Moscow summit earlier this year, while representatives from India attended other meetings to ensure NCDs are properly addressed.
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