Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society

World Cancer Day observed in Ethiopia for the Fifth time running. Panel discussion on World Cancer Day was held on Saturday February 4, 2012 at Ethiopian National Theater starting 9:30AM.Several senior cancer specialists and oncologists presented briefings on different cancer related topics and question and answer session followed afterwards transformed the program in to one of inspirational one of its kind. The panel discussion was well presented by local media including ETV, different FM radio stations and print media.

Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manager of Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society welcomed the participants on behalf of his society and himself. He briefed the audience on how World Cancer Day was initially approved in 2000 by the World Cancer Congress held in Paris, France. He gave summarized briefing on UN political declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He outlined, unless addressed, the mortality and disease burden from NCDs in general and cancer in particular will continue to increase and will become a double burden to the national health care system where communicable diseases are the major health problems and imposing a heavy burden on socioeconomic development. Quoting WHO and UICC, he confirmed that Cancer kills 21,800 people around the globe every day and ending cancer should be on the global health and development agendas. He familiarized the campaign statement for this year “Together it is possible” selected because it is only by every person, organization, government individually doing their part that the world will be able to reduce premature deaths from cancer and other NCDs by 25% by 2025.

According to Mr.Wondu Bekele, lack of awareness is another big problem here in Ethiopia. There is lack of awareness about the magnitude of the problem. There are also stigma and misconceptions about cancer; that all cancers are incurable. There is little work done, to date, to promote the awareness that most cancers can be prevented, can be cured if diagnosed early, and quality of life of patients can be improved even if the disease is diagnosed in advanced stage. He finally invited all to join his society in awareness creation and prevention activities, the overall objective of which will be to enhance the awareness of the society of cancer and its prevention and treatment possibilities, believed to be very effective in reducing the overall cancer burden.

               Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manager of Mathiwos Wondu-YeEthiopia Cancer Society presenting welcoming speech.

Dr.Abebayehu Assefa, WHO – DPC Cluster Lead made opening remark on behalf Dr.Fatoumata Nafo Traore, WHO Representative-Ethiopia and presented well prepared message which summarized the active involvement and participation of his esteemed organization has been playing to challenge the growing burden of NCDs in general and cancer in particular. He emphasized the WHO African regional strategy for cancer prevention and control that adopted in 2008 to effectively scale up priority interventions. He also underlined that the National health systems should be oriented towards the promotion and support of healthy lifestyles within the primary health care approach in order to make healthier choices and follow lifestyle patterns that foster good health call all stakeholders to implement strategies recommended by WHO for cancer prevention and control, the Brazzaville Declaration, the Moscow Declaration and the Political Declaration of the UN High‐level meeting on NCDs so as to drastically reduce cancer burden in the Region. As UN specialized agency responsible for health, he reaffirmed the commitment and support of WHO  towards strengthening the on-going efforts to challenge the growing burden of NCDs in Ethiopia.Dr.Abebayehu,finally invited all concerned to align under the banner of ’Together it is possible’; and encouraged all to support  the milestone to encourage everyone affected by cancer (individuals, civil societies and governments), to ensure that they take responsibility for reducing the burden of cancer.

 

Dr.Bogale Solomon, Consultant and Clinical Oncologist, from the Black Lion Hospital presented briefing on world cancer day and its campaign statement. He briefed the audience on how world cancer day came in to the picture and the leading role played by International Union Against Cancer (UICC).He also familiarized the audience on how to prevent up to 40% of cancer by taking simple measures and life style change, such as, eating healthily, maintaing a healthy weight, maintain regular physical activity, stopping tobacco use and avoiding exposure to passive smoke, limiting alcohol consumption etc.

 

            

Dr.Aster Tsegaye appreciated and thanked all participated, particularly Mathiwos Wondu –YeEthiopia Cancer Society for organizing the panel discussion. She outlined how her medical center of excellence for referral and teaching in Ethiopia once built with the contribution of Ethiopian people now desperately looking for every kind of support. She reminded the audience the hospital which was built with the state of the art of technology and facility at a time now requires renovation and reorganization. She finally called upon all friends of the hospital inside and outside Ethiopia to help the hospital in whatever way they can so that it can justify its existence and objectives.