The Global Fight Against Cancer

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.

Focus on Integrated Communications at American Cancer Society Training for 14 Latin American NGOs in Rio de Janeiro

 
Nathan Grey (standing on right), national vice president, International Affairs Department, American Cancer Society, addresses the NGO training participants.

The American Cancer Society hosted its third training for the Latin America Regional Health Grants Program June 14-19 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The three-year program aims to improve cancer control in the region through early detection. Twenty-eight representatives from 14 of the leading cancer control nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) participated in the training, funded by Pfizer, Inc., and the Pfizer Foundation, which focused on “Integrated Communications: Internal Management, Media Relations, and Expanding Impact.” The curriculum for the training was presented by a faculty consisting partly of cancer control experts outside the American Cancer Society, including Dan Rutz, team lead, Global Health Communication, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Adrian Huñis, MD, director and chief of oncology, Center of Oncology in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Rita Dardes, medical director, Avon Institute; and Chris Cardona and Jared Raynor, consultants for the TCC group. Robert Simpson, director, Latin America, Worldwide Public Affairs and Policy for Pfizer, presented and highlighted Pfizer's continued efforts to support patient programs throughout Latin America. American Cancer Society faculty included Nathan Grey, national vice president, International Affairs Department; Claudia Rodas, regional director of Government Operations – Gulf Coast; Alessandra Durstine, vice president, Regional Strategies, and director, Latin American Programs; and Cristina Parsons Perez, manager, Latin American Cancer Initiatives. The NGO representatives also visited the National Cancer Institute of Brazil and were welcomed by the director general, Luiz Antonio Santini Rodrigues da Silva. The fourth and final training of the Latin America Regional Health Grants Program will focus on advocacy and will take place in 2010 in Washington, D.C.

American Cancer Society Brazilian Fellows Seek to Improve Breast Cancer Control in Brazil

The Brazilian fellows visit the American Cancer Society National Home Office in Atlanta.  From left to right:  Gustavo Azenha, manager, Brazilian Initiatives, American Cancer Society; Dr. Maira Caleffi, founding president of FEMAMA; Regina Vargas, advocacy coordinator for FEMAMA.

Two representatives of the Brazilian breast cancer coalition Federação Brasileira de Instituções Filantropicas de Apoio a Saude da Mama (FEMAMA) recently participated in a weeklong American Cancer Society fellowship, awarded to them after receiving an American Cancer Society Latin America Best Practice Award for networking. The fellows, Maira Caleffi, MD, PhD, founding president of FEMAMA, and Regina Vargas, advocacy coordinator for FEMAMA, visited American Cancer Society offices in Atlanta, Georgia, and Washington, D.C., to share their knowledge and experience about breast cancer control in Brazil and learn more about governance and advocacy issues from American Cancer Society staff. At the American Cancer Society’s National Home Office (NHO) in Atlanta, the fellows met with John R. Seffrin, PhD, chief executive officer of the American Cancer Society, as well as other Society leaders. They also gave a presentation to the NHO staff on the breast cancer burden in Brazil and FEMAMA’s advocacy work. In Washington, Bob Chapman, director of operations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action NetworkSM (ACS CAN) and other ACS CAN staff provided Caleffi and Vargas with a detailed look at American Cancer Society advocacy initiatives, including media engagement, policy development, campaign planning, grassroots mobilization, and new media advocacy. (ACS CAN is the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the Society). The fellows returned to Brazil with a wealth of exciting new ideas and strategies to strengthen FEMAMA coalition governance, enrich grassroots outreach, enhance advocacy actions, and catalyze positive changes in breast cancer control in Brazil.

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.

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. 

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.