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Cancer
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Alliance of non governmental organizations against cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Introduction
 Cancer is an increasing problem in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and
ranks as the fourth leading cause of death. Globally, cancer is the second
most common cause of death. Although the incidence of cancer in the Region
is still well below that in western countries, it is expected to experience
the highest increase among all WHO Regions in the next 20 years. The
increasing trend can be attributed to population ageing, associated with
increased life expectancy and declining fertility, and increased exposure to
risk factors, including smoking, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity,
environmental pollution and industrial and agricultural carcinogens.
Improved public awareness, detection and registration could also contribute
to this trend.
Background
 Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, the WHO Regional Office, in
association with the Princess
Lalla Salma Association against Cancer,
nongovernmental organizations and other relevant international organizations
in the Region, agreed to establish an alliance against cancer to join forces
in order to generate an appropriate and concerted effort to prevent and
control cancer. The alliance was created in a meeting in Marrakech on 22
November 2007, under the patronage of HRH Princess Lalla Salma, and a
secretariat based in Morocco was established. Membership of the alliance
will be open to all organizations active in the field of cancer in the
Region and also for prominent individuals. A basic regulations document was
endorsed at the same meeting. A proposed document of the alliance’s internal
regulations has also been prepared. The establishment of the alliance is
consistent with the WHO approach towards public health problems, the WHO
Global Action Plan against Cancer, and the WHO regional strategy for cancer
prevention and control.
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Vision and mission
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Prevention
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Early detection
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Palliative care
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