WHO and the Gulf Federation for Cancer Control partner for cancer prevention and control

The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and the Gulf Federation for Cancer Control signed today, Saturday, 3 July 2010, a memorandum of understanding at the Regional Office to enhance breast cancer screening and early detection and palliative care development. During the ceremony, the Gulf Federation honoured Dr Hussein Gezairy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, for his leading role in supporting cancer prevention and control in the Region.

The Gulf Federation for Cancer Control, which is mandated to consolidate and enhance the activities of cancer prevention and control in member countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, is currently involved in efforts to improve breast screening programmes and to raise awareness of breast cancer. The Regional Office welcomes the support, cooperation and partnership with the Federation to foster cancer control programmes and gratefully acknowledges the work and role of the Federation in mobilizing resources and supporting cancer prevention and screening interventions in the Region. “The cooperation between WHO and the Federation will greatly enhance the capacity of countries in their efforts to fight cancer”, said Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, upon signing the memorandum of understanding with Dr Khaled Al Saleh, the Secretary of the Federation.

Dr Abdel Aziz Al Turki, Chair of Board of the Saudi Cancer Control Society, Eastern Region, noted with satisfaction the increasing number of societies seeking to prevent and control cancer. He emphasized the importance of collaboration and communication among those societies and documentation and registration of different experiences in cancer incidence and recovery.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and in the Region. The number of new cancer cases in 2008 was estimated to be 12.7 million with 7.6 million cancer deaths. It is expected that over half (56%) of new cancer cases and 63% of cancer deaths will occur in developing countries. In 2030 it is expected that approximately 21.4 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed and 13.2 million cancer deaths will occur.
 

“Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females in the Region, and is increasing in the Region with late presentation. While we do not fully understand the reasons for the high incidence of breast cancer, we know that the early detection and management of breast cancer is very critical for cure and to improve breast cancer survival rates”, added Dr Gezairy who also drew attention to the importance of supporting the morale and mental health of cancer patients.

The participants at the signing ceremony highlighted the importance of palliative care, awareness-raising, counselling and unifying registration efforts in order to obtain solid data and comprehensive documentation.

The regional strategy on cancer prevention and control, endorsed by all Member States in Morocco at the Regional Committee meeting in October 2009, identified four key priorities areas requiring immediate attention in order to scale up cancer prevention and control in the Region, namely cancer registration, palliative care services, breast cancer screening and early detection. In this context priority is given to those activities focusing on breast cancer screening, including raising women’s awareness of breast cancer and building national capacity in the early detection of this cancer.
 

Recognizing the diversity in resources among countries in the Region and in order to support implementation of the regional cancer control strategy focusing on priority interventions, it is an opportune time to strengthen partnership through this memorandum of understanding to build coordinated efforts and alliances and enhance implementation of cancer control programmes in the Region.

The memorandum of understanding envisages two potential areas for collaboration at the regional and country level and will initially be in force for two years after which time it will be reviewed for renewal. The signing ceremony was also attended by Dr Naeema Al-Gasseer, Assistant Regional Director, Dr Haifa Madi, Director of Health Protection and Promotion, and Dr Ibtihal Fadhil, Regional Adviser on Noncommunicable Diseases.