"Cancer can be prevented too” Walk Program
The "Cancer can be prevented too” walk program in support of World Cancer and World Childhood Cancer days was held on Sunday, February 20, 2011 at Meskel Square, here in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Approximately 800 people took part including Dr.Ismael Hassan representing the Ministry of Health and Invited Guests, representatives from NGOs working on Diabetes,Heart,Kidney and Cancer and students from various schools also took part and actively participated in the program. Briefing on cancer in general by Dr.Bogale Solomon, the only Senior Oncologist here in Ethiopia and question and answers program that followed afterwards helped to transform the program in to one of the most inspirational and educational event.
Mr.Dessalegne Kassa, Chief Accountant of MWECS
and Master of the Ceremony familiarizing the program.
Mr.Wondu Bekele, General Manager of MWECS, presenting welcoming speech.
Dr.Yetenayet Abebe, Board Director and Chairperson of Promotion and Fund Raising Committee of MWECS presenting campaign statement of the walk program.
Dr.Bogale Solomon, Board Director of MWECS and the only Senior Oncologist in Ethiopia, giving short briefing on cancer.
Dr.Ismael Hassan of the Federal Ministry of Health presenting opening remarks.
Representatives of NGOs working on NCDs from far right Dr.Lisan of Ethiopian Kidney Association ,Mr.Wondu of MWECS,Dr.Ismael from Federal Ministry of Health,Mr.Aklilu of Heart Association,Mr.Ahmed Emano Director of Public Relation of the Federal Ministry of Health,Mrs,Misrak of the Ethiopian Diabetes Association and Dr.Bogale representing the YeEthiopia Cancer Association, who recently joined their forces and established the Ethiopian NCD Consortium showing their united commitment to fight the growing burden of NCDs in Ethiopia.
Mohammed, bone cancer survivor sharing his experience.
Partial view of the walk program.
Lack of awareness is another problem here in Ethiopia. There is lack of awareness about the magnitude of the problem in the country. 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.
The bad news is diseases, such as non-communicable diseases in general and cancer in particular, for so long considered as a disease of the developed world, but with improved living standards and longer life expectancy, their incidence in developing countries is on the rise. Cancer is the leading cause of death in developed countries and epidemiological evidence shows that the trend in developing countries is in the same direction. By 2020, three out of every five or 70 % new cancer cases will occur in the developing world.
The good news is we can prevent 80% of most of NCDs and up to 40% of cancer by taking simple measures and life style change such as:
• Stopping tobacco use and avoiding exposure to passive smoke.
• Limiting alcohol consumption.
• Avoiding excessive sun exposure.
• Regular physical activity.
• Eating healthily.
• Maintaining a healthy weight.
• Protecting against cancer-causing infections.
Towards these ends, we have very simple and reliable guidelines in both Amharic and English.
This is an exciting time: 2011 promises to be an important year with the UN Summit on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) taking place in September.Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - namely cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes - cause 60% of all global deaths, but receive less than 3% of international development assistance for health. 80% of deaths caused by NCDs occur in developing countries.
The long awaited Strategic Framework document on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Ethiopia has been approved by the Ministry of Health and included in the Health Sector Development Program (HSDP), Growth, and Transformation Plan (GTP) of the country for 2011-2015 periods. Encouraged by recent developments NGOs working on cancer, diabetes, heart and kidney joined their forces and formed the Ethiopian NCD Consortium.