The Global Fight Against Cancer

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 Collaborates with Swedish NGO to Raise Tobacco Awareness among Youth

The American Cancer Society has received a grant from the Pfizer Foundation to collaborate with a Stockholm-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) on a program aimed at raising tobacco awareness among youth. SAMBA is a Swedish NGO that advocates for the well-being of children and youth. (The name is an acronym in Swedish for coordinating children and youth.) Following a successful first meeting in April 2009, the Society and SAMBA have been developing a training program tailored to people between the ages of 13 and 23 to develop their capacities as tobacco control advocates. A workshop will take place May 6-9, 2010, in Stockholm to bring together several youth advocates from different organizations throughout Sweden who are committed to the goals of the Dizza Tobak program, an initiative led by SAMBA geared at raising tobacco awareness among youth in Sweden. (Dizza tobak is a slang phrase used by youth that means something like “say no to tobacco.”) The workshop, led by Sylvana Rochet-Belleri, international program manager, Global Health, American Cancer Society, and Holly Aprea, a Society consultant on youth advocacy, will provide participants an opportunity to share experiences, deepen their knowledge of tobacco control, sharpen their spokesperson skills, and hold a youth advocacy public action to attract media coverage. More information on the training program and related activities will be posted in future entries on this blog. Information on the Dizza Tobak program in Swedish can be found at dizzatobak.se.

¡Inscríbase para el Premio Excelencia Latina de la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer! Apply for the 2009 American Cancer Society Latin America Best Practice Awards!

(The English version of this announcement appears below the Spanish version.)

El Premio Excelencia Latina de la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer destaca los programas con métodos innovadores, los cuales apoyan las necesidades de los pacientes de cáncer en Latinoamérica.

Este año, la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer está aceptando solicitudes de organizaciones latinoamericanas sin fines de lucro que brindan ayuda a los pacientes, mediante programas ejemplares en las siguientes áreas:
- Apoyo a pacientes y cuidadores: Programas que ofrecen cuidados de salud, apoyo práctico, al paciente y a cuidadores
- Trabajo con los medios de comunicación y/o tomadores de decisiones: Programas que se destinan a influir tomadores de decisiones o que trabajan con los medios de comunicación
- Colaboración con profesionales de la salud: Programas en los que los profesionales de la salud desempeñan un papel fundamental en el desarrollo o la ejecución del Programa.

Para cada categoría habrá un primer y un segundo premio. Los ganadores del primer premio recibirán:
• Una beca de dos años para continuar la implementación del programa innovador (USD$15,000 por categoría) con asistencia especializada de la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer.
• Una semana en los Estados Unidos para que dos líderes de cada organización ganadora para estudiar directamente con la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer en un área específica de trabajo.
• Un viaje a Cartagena para asistir a la ceremonia de premiación el 21 de Noviembre de 2009, como parte de la reunión de la Alianza Latina.

Ganadores del segundo premio recibirán:
• Una beca por dos años para continuar implementando el programa innovador (USD$7,500 por categoría) con asistencia técnica de la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer.
• Un viaje a Cartagena para asistir a la ceremonia de premiación el 21 de Noviembre de 2009 como parte de la reunión de la Alianza Latina.

Además, la Sociedad Americana del Cáncer está aceptando nominaciones para reconocer a un voluntario extraordinario (de Colombia únicamente), con el premio de "Voluntario/a del Año." El/la voluntario/a ganador/a será honrado/a en la ceremonia de premiación el 21 de noviembre de 2009 en Cartagena, Colombia. En esta ocasión, tendrá la oportunidad de compartir sus experiencias con otros profesionales de organizaciones sin fines de lucro de Latinoamérica.

Para obtener más información, por favor visite www.premioexcelencialatina.org. Llene el breve formulario sobre su organización y su programa innovador y envíelo antes del 1º  de septiembre de 2009, ¡para convertirse en un ganador del Premio Excelencia Latina 2009!

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The American Cancer Society’s Latin America Best Practice Awards highlight programs with innovative methods that support the needs of cancer patients in Latin America.

This year, the American Cancer Society is accepting applications from Latin American nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) with excellent patient programs in the following areas:
- Patient and Care Giver Support: Programs that provide health care or practical support to patients and their caregivers
- Media and Stakeholder Engagement: Programs that are intended to influence decisionmakers and work with the media
- Collaboration with Health Care Professionals: Programs in which health professionals play a key role in the development or implementation of the program.

For each category there will be a first and second prize. The first place winners will receive:
• A grant of USD$15,000, disbursed over two years, and technical assistance from the American Cancer Society to continue implementation of the innovative program.
• A week long fellowship at an American Cancer Society division office for two leaders from each winning organization.
• A trip to Cartagena to attend the awards ceremony at the 'Alianza Latina' meeting on November 21, 2009.

Second place winners will receive:
• A grant of USD$7,500, disbursed over two years, and technical assistance from the American Cancer Society to continue implementation of the innovative program.
• A trip to Cartagena to attend the awards ceremony at the 'Alianza Latina' meeting on November 21, 2009.

Additionally, the American Cancer Society is accepting nominations, from Colombia only, for an excellent volunteer to be recognized as “Volunteer of the Year!” The winning volunteer will be honored at the awards ceremony on November 21, 2009, in Cartagena, Colombia, and will have the opportunity to share his or hers experiences in the field with NGO professionals from across Latin America.

For more information, please visit www.premioexcelencialatina.org. Fill out the brief form about your organization and its innovative program and submit it by September 1, 2009, to become a winner of a 2009 American Cancer Society Latin America Best Practice Award!

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 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 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 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.

Launch of Patient Navigation Program in Mexico

INCan staff and NGO leaders try out the new INFOCANCER Web site

On February 4, the American Cancer Society and the Mexican National Cancer Institute (INCan) launched a new patient navigation program called INFOCANCER. This three-tiered patient support program is similar to the support the American Cancer Society provides to patients in the United States. The launch event was covered by several Mexican media outlets. Based at INCan headquarters, the program’s goal is to give patients personal support in handling needs – such as proper housing, economic assistance, and adequate transportation – that are beyond the scope of their attending oncologist. Interested patients can find information on the program in Spanish through a Web site (www.infocancer.org.mx) and toll-free phone number or through walk-in assistance at INCan headquarters. The American Cancer Society provides technical support for the program. It also provides financial support along with the Mexican Secretaria de Salud and Roche Pharmaceuticals.