The Global Fight Against Cancer

The American Cancer Society Collaborates with Key U.N. Agencies and Global Health Leaders to Advance Women's Health Worldwide

New York City — The American Cancer Society Global Health Programs led the first-ever side event at the United Nations (U.N.) on April 13 to address women’s cancers and NCDs (non-communicable diseases). Participants encouraged U.N. policy makers to prioritize women's cancers at the High-level U.N. Meeting on NCDs in September 2011. NCDs – cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic respiratory disease - represent a global health, economic, and development issue. Their impact on women deepens health and gender inequities between and within countries and have a profound effect on individuals, households, and communities. Women worldwide are affected by, and at risk for, mortality from cancers that are largely preventable and treatable, including cervical and breast cancer.

 Madam Callista Mutharika, First Lady of the Republic of Malawi, Incoming Vice Chairperson, Forum of African First Ladies against Breast and Cervical Cancer 

 Dr. Karen Sealey, PAHO/WHO Special Advisor served as moderator. (center)

 Ms. Clover Allen Wilson, Breast Cancer Survivor received a standing ovation.

More than 200 people attended, including civil society, healthcare professionals, academics and representatives from more than 30 U.N. Missions. 

The meeting marked the release of "Progress in Cervical Cancer Prevention: The CCA Report Card. Cervical Cancer Action." This new report by Cervical Cancer Action, assesses global readiness to fight cervical cancer using new approaches and new technologies, especially in regions where the disease is a common killer. It underscores the urgent need for the global community to prioritize cervical cancer prevention and control on global health and development agendas.

The American Cancer Society collaborated with the Permanent Mission of the Member States of the Caribbean Community, the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Malawi, the U.N. Population Fund, PATH and the African Forum of First Ladies against Breast and Cervical Cancer.

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CERVICAL CANCER: GLOBAL FACTS TO FILE

• Cervical cancer is central to the emerging cancer pandemic in low- and middle-income countries. 

• The number of lives lost to this preventable disease is a global failure of the largest scale given all we know about preventing, detecting, and treating cervical cancer. 

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

BREAST CANCER: GLOBAL FACTS TO FILE

• 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. Source: Global Cancer Facts & Figures, 2nd edition

One of the ways the American Cancer Society supports women is by developing advocacy and capacity-building in low- and middle-income countries. Latin America is a case in point. Across the region, the Society has partnered with 70 organizations working in breast cancer control. Additionally, the Society launched a Pan-American cancer network and co- founded a regional breast cancer advocacy coalition. In Brazil and Mexico, ACS pioneered a patient navigator program offering valuable information about breast care and treatment.

 

African Ministers of Health Conclude WHO-AFRO Consultation Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases

Brazzaville, Congo — As the second day of the WHO-AFRO NCD Consultation meeting commenced on April 5, experts from five countries shared key examples of successful NCD interventions and initiatives which could be replicated throughout the region. Ann McMikel, director of strategic planning for the American Cancer Society Global Programs 

There was also a round table discussion on the role of civil society and the private sector in NCDs prevention and control, which included representatives from UICC, ACS, NCDA, IDF, WHF and Africa Development Bank. Presentations and discussions focused on advocacy, public-private partnerships, opportunities for resource mobilization, and the innovative financing designed to address the African region's growing NCD burden, which accounts for 28 percent of deaths and is projected to increase 27 percent over the next 10 years. The meeting culminated in a draft declaration statement on NCDs for ministerial consideration. Dr. Luis G. Sambo, regional director of World Health Organization African Region

On April 6, the WHO-AFRO Ministerial meeting was opened by WHO-AFRO Regional Director Dr. Luis G. Sambo and was attended by 46 health ministers and their representatives. The event highlighted the historic importance of the UN High Level Meeting in September in NY, and the roll of participation by African Heads of State to ensure its success. After lengthy discussion and debate, the health ministers approved a Brazzaville Declaration on NCDs in preparation for the Moscow Ministerial Meeting on Healthy Lifestyles and the UN HLM. To address the regional and global NCD burden, the declaration calls for 18 key actions and commitments including partnerships, FCTC implementation, health system strengthening, strong civil society engagement, and alliances and networks at national, regional, and global levels.  

The American Cancer Society Joins African Ministers of Health in Global Effort to Fight Non-communicable Diseases

Brazzaville, Congo — In an effort to address the growing global burden of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the American Cancer Society is joining technical experts and Ministers of Health in Africa for a meeting in Brazzaville, Congo this week. The gathering marks the first African regional consultation on NCDs under the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss Africa's response to the growing burden of NCDs including cancer, diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart diseases. According to the WHO, NCDs claim more than 35 million lives each year and account for roughly 60 percent of all deaths worldwide, with a disproportionate number of fatalities occurring in developing countries. 

The Brazzaville consultation will yield a regional NCD declaration to contribute to proceedings of the First Global Ministerial Meeting on Healthy Lifestyle and NCDs control scheduled for 28-29 April in Moscow, and the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs in New York City from 19-20 September 2011. At the New York summit, the UN will address cancer and other chronic diseases for the first time as part of a larger policy that recognizes the global NCD burden and outlines a clear plan of action for governments, the UN system, civil society, and development stakeholders. 

 

 

American Cancer Society Co-hosts Forum on Controlling Noncommunicable Diseases in Africa Through Public-Private Partnerships

On June 30, the American Cancer Society launched the first session of a three-part ‘Multi-sector Working Forum on Noncommunicable Disease in Africa,’ in collaboration with The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) in Washington, DC. The American Cancer Society, as a leader in the global cancer control movement, developed this forum with CCA as part of preparations for the United Nations (UN) special summit on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), planned for September 2011, which will address the growing global burden of cancer and other NCDs. In advance of that high-level meeting, government, civil society, and other stakeholders have called for interventions that demonstrate the need for and success of programs worldwide that address NCDs. The American Cancer Society’s first session of the Forum included a series of discussions on cancer and other NCD priorities, ranging from prevention and research to early detection and patient support. The primary objective of the Forum is to convene stakeholders working on NCDs in sub-Saharan Africa and have them brainstorm new public-private partnerships or projects involving the private sector that can help build the appropriate health information and systems to mitigate and prevent NCDs in the region. The end goal will be to present concrete and actionable steps or proposals for tangible projects/partnerships for private-sector involvement in resolving this growing health challenge at future conferences and meetings, such as the UN summit. Last month’s Forum launch was chaired by Mr. Haskell Ward, chair of the American Cancer Society’s Global Health Strategy Advisory Committee, and attended by civil society, private sector, and government officials, including ambassadors to the US from Angola and Mozambique. The session included presentations by American Cancer Society staff and representatives of GE Healthcare, JHPIEGO (international nonprofit health organization affiliated with Johns Hopkins University), Medtronics, Millennium Challenge Corporation, and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The next session of the Forum, ‘Projects and Partnerships for Screening and Diagnosis,’ will be held on August 5 at the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network^SM (ACS CAN) office in Washington, DC.

American Cancer Society Hosts Stakeholders Meeting in Tanzania

On May 7 the American Cancer Society hosted a cancer stakeholder workshop in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare of Tanzania. This workshop provided a forum to transition the Society’s history and partnerships in Tanzania to future cancer control activities led by local stakeholders. It brought together 34 participants from health facilities, international organizations and nongovernmental organizations. The objectives of the workshop included sharing the national noncommunicable disease (NCD) strategy, sharing information and findings from various assessments and evaluations conducted in Tanzania by stakeholders, identifying strategies to improve coordination among the cancer sector stakeholders, and contributing to the finalization of the national cancer control plan. Speakers during the workshop included Dr. Joseph Mbatia, director, Noncommunicable Diseases; Loyce Pace, director, Regional Programs, American Cancer Society; Dr. Ali Mzige, Tanzania Public Health Association (TPHA); and Dr Elias J Muganyizi, Tanzania Palliative Care Association (TPCA), among others. As part of plans to move forward, five critical areas were identified and discussed in stakeholder workgroups: resource mobilization, education/awareness, networking/coordination, policy/legislation, and capacity building. Necessary action plans were aligned to each area to further support cancer control in Tanzania.

American Cancer Society Hosts First Francophone African Media Summit in Douala, Cameroon

 
Loyce Pace (on right and in camera frame), director, Regional Programs, American Cancer Society, and Awatef Dali (center), a television personality and communications expert from Tunisia, are interviewed by journalists on the TV program Good Morning, Cameroon.

 

The Africa Cancer Information and Advocacy Initiative, managed by the American Cancer Society and supported by Oracle and the Canadian Cancer Society, hosted its first Francophone African Media Summit, which brought together more than 20 communications experts and journalists working in the health sector from the following countries in which French is commonly spoken: Senegal, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Cameroon. The three-day summit, held April 16-18 in Douala, Cameroon, focused on information exchange and capacity building for cancer- and tobacco-related reporting in Africa. The summit offered participants a hands-on workshop-type environment that encouraged robust discussions on cancer- and tobacco-related themes. The participants ultimately developed an action plan outlining ways in which they can develop information exchanges on cancer and tobacco control and improve journalist capacity on health reporting. Loyce Pace, director, Regional Programs, American Cancer Society, gave the opening remarks during the first day of the event. The special guest speaker for the summit was Paul Ndom, MD, former president of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC). Dr. Ndom also serves as deputy permanent secretary of the National Program Fight against Cancer, a cancer control group based in Cameroon, and as founding president of SOCHIMIO, a nongovernmental organization based in Cameroon’s capital, Yaoundé. Some of the other expert speakers included Awatef Dali, a television personality and communications expert from Tunisia; Fara Diaw, a Senegal-based print journalist and media trainer; and Khalil Gueye, a US-based producer, broadcaster, and CNN contributor. The event received publicity in numerous leading national media outlets, including a live broadcast on Good Morning, Cameroon, a bilingual French/English program broadcast within Cameroon and to neighboring countries by Cameroon-based Spectrum Television (STV).

American Cancer Society to Manage New Effort against Tobacco in Africa

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has given a $7 million grant over five years to the American Cancer Society to lead and coordinate the African Tobacco Control Consortium, a global coalition of public health-oriented organizations focusing on using evidence-based approaches to stem the tobacco epidemic in Africa. In addition to the American Cancer Society, the consortium includes the Africa Tobacco Control Regional Initiative (ATCRI), Africa Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA), Framework Convention Alliance (FCA), Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union).

In a part of the world that is notably affected by HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other infectious diseases, Africa is seeing cancer emerge as a serious public health threat. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, much of the rise can be attributed to widespread tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the world, and according to the World Health Organization, if current trends continue, tobacco use will cause one billion deaths worldwide during this century.

As the managing organization of the coalition, the American Cancer Society will collaborate with consortium partners to implement an ambitious tobacco control program across the 46 countries of sub-Saharan Africa. The overall goal will be to reduce tobacco use in these countries by implementing proven strategies at the national and local level.

Click on the following link to read a press release on the new grant and coalition.

American Cancer Society-supported Tobacco Control Report, Expert Cited in Lancet Article

In the latest edition of The Lancet, a leading global medical journal, an article on smoke-free laws in Africa references an American Cancer Society-supported report and a Society staff member. The article warns that Africa may see a large increase in tobacco use in the next several decades unless effective tobacco control efforts are established on the continent now, including the passage of comprehensive smoke-free laws by governments. The article references information from the 2009 status report Global Voices: Rebutting the Tobacco Industry, Winning Smokefree Air, published by the Global Smokefree Partnership, which is supported by the American Cancer Society. The report indicates that African countries are likely to see the highest increase in the rate of tobacco use among developing countries, but also points out encouraging trends such as the willingness of several African countries to fight the tobacco industry’s “aggressive efforts” to stop tobacco control. The article includes a prediction from economist Evan Blecher, International Tobacco Control Research Program, American Cancer Society, that tobacco consumption will double in sub-Saharan Africa in the next 12 to 13 year without major policy interventions. He argues that consumption is mainly driven by economic development and says “As income rises, so does tobacco consumption (nearly on a one-to-one basis) and developing countries are growing rapidly. China and India are growing at more than 8% a year and the average economic growth in Africa is 5% a year.” To read the full text of the Lancet article (site registration is required), click on this link.

 

American Cancer Society Sponsors Plenary Session on Cancer Control Advocacy on Final Day of AORTIC Conference

On November 14, the final day of the AORTIC Conference in Tanzania, the American Cancer Society sponsored a plenary session about cancer control advocacy that focused on making the disease a global health priority. Ann McMikel, strategic director, Planning and Operations, American Cancer Society, served as one of the co-chairs for the plenary session and introduced the session, along with Seth Ayettey, MD, PhD, professor of Anatomy, University of Ghana. Johanna Ralston, vice president, Global Strategies and managing director, International Affairs, American Cancer Society, addressed advocacy related to cervical cancer screening and prevention. Claire Neal, senior director of Mission, Lance Armstrong Foundation, talked about engaging advocates to make cancer a global priority. Anso Thom, a journalist with the South African health news Web site Health-e and American Cancer Society journalist fellow, spoke about engaging the media to raise cancer awareness. Earlier in the day, American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley, MD, participated in a panel discussion with leaders from other global health organizations about the importance of international collaboration for cancer control in Africa.

American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Delivers Keynote Address on Colorectal Cancer in Africa; Society Recognizes AORTIC’s Commitment to Fighting Cancer

Otis Brawley, MD, chief medical officer, American Cancer Society, speaking at an ACS pre-conference workshop for journalists and nongovernmental organization representatives in Tanzania.

American Cancer Society Chief Medical Officer Otis Brawley, MD, delivered a keynote address about the colorectal cancer burden in Africa November 13 at AORTIC Conference 2009 in Tanzania. His address included the latest available data and opportunities to intervene now to prevent the cancer from becoming a public health challenge in the region by using lessons learned from the US and other developed parts of the world. At the conference’s gala dinner, the Society presented AORTIC’s leadership with a gift to recognize the organization’s commitment to the fight against cancer in Africa. The new president and executive council of AORTIC were named at the dinner. Serigne Gueye, MD, from Senegal, will serve as president of AORTIC for the next two years.