Download Company Profile - World Cancer Day

PRESS STATEMENT
IN COMMEMORATION OF WORLD CANCER DAY
“Universal Access to Screening and Early Detection for Cancer”
Introduction
Women Coalition Against Cancer – WOCACA is a registered women led organisation
established to contribute towards cancer prevention and control by empowering women, men
and children through education, awareness, training, research, advocacy, lobbying,
mobilization, networking for ensuring quality care and life.
Cancer Brief
Growing global cancer burden each year, almost 7 million people die from cancer and close
to 11 million new cases are diagnosed. In today's world, everyone will be touched by cancer as a patient, a family member or a friend. In 2020, if current trends continue, more than 10
million people will die of cancer and the number of new cases will increase to 16 million per
year. If these rising global trends are to be reversed, then present knowledge must be put into
effect on a wider scale.
Cancer is a worldwide public health problem Cancer kills one in eight of those who die
worldwide and claims twice as many lives as AIDS. Often it is regarded as a disease of the
developed world, but with improved living standards and longer life expectancy, cancer
incidence in developing countries is on the rise. Cancer is the second 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 new cancer cases will
occur in the developing world.
Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide with a majority of cases and
deaths occurring in developing countries. While cancer of the lung, breast, colorectum,
stomach and prostate are the most common types of cancer globally, in east and southern
Africa these are less common and comprehensive data to inform policies are lacking.
Cancer is not just a health matter. It has wide-reaching social, economic and human rights
implications, and is a significant barrier to achieving inclusive and equitable development.
Inequality is deepening – social and environmental factors and the double disease burden of
exposures in many low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) are keeping the bottom
billion locked in chronic poverty and threatening national economies.
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Cancer as part of the health problem in Malawi
Cancer is a non – communicable diseases (NCD) which has increasingly contributed to the
health burden in the country both socially and economically.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) 22% of all cancers worldwide are a result of
chronic infections and the percentage keeps growing.
In Malawi cervical cancer (according to studies conducted) is the most prevalent form of
cancer among women, with an 80% mortality rate. Cervical cancer is a deadly disease that
can cause death fairly quickly, though if it is diagnosed in its early stages it can be easily
controlled.
As is the case with many developing countries this inequity is due to the lack of cervical
cancer screening programmes in the developing countries including Malawi. The biggest
impacts of cervical cancer are on poverty, education, and gender equity. Many of those who
die are breadwinners and caretakers of both children and elders.
Cancer Day Awareness
It is against this background that the Women Coalition Against Cancer – WOCACA in
collaboration with Achikondi Women Clinic in Area 23 Lilongwe, Malawi has organised
community awareness as part of commemorating this day. This community awareness will
take place on 4th February starting from 2pm to 5 pm.
The awareness will include discussions on issues of early screening, nutrition, removing the
stigma and discrimination towards women and children living with cancer and testimonies
from cancer survivors.
For Further Information, Contact: Executive Director
Women Coalition Against Cancer – (WOCACA)
P.O. BOX 2288
Lilongwe
MALAWI
Phone: + 265 999 950 952
Email: - [email protected]
Twitter: - @WomenCancer
Maud Mwakasungula
Executive Director
WOCACA
Charity Salima
Chairperson
WOCACA
“Striving for care and support to cancer women and children patients with their families”
Thursday/28th January, 2016
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