World cancer campaign

World Cancer Campaign 2007-2012
The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) – a Geneva-based NGO – and member organizations in 86 countries launched the five-year World Cancer Campaign on World Cancer Day February 4, 2007. Targeting parents, health-care professionals and policymakers, the campaign presents a common theme: fostering healthy habits during childhood can help prevent cancer later in life.

Four key messages are:
• Provide a smoke-free environment for children
• Be physically active, eat a balanced, healthy diet, and avoid obesity
• Learn about vaccines for virus-related liver and cervical cancer
• Avoid over-exposure to the sun

The Global Cancer Burden
More than seven million people die from cancer and close to 11 million new cases are diagnosed every year. In 2006, cancer killed more people than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. “Cancer strikes all segments of society in every country. The good news is cancer is largely preventable,” says Isabel Mortara, UICC executive director. “The first steps toward prevention are education and action. That needs to start with children. That’s why this campaign is so important.”

Putting Cancer on the Public Agenda
In addition to targeting individuals, the World Cancer Campaign encourages policy decision-makers to put cancer on the public agenda. “Cancer control can only be effective if given priority at the highest decision-making levels. Complacency and inaction on the part of the world community will effectively contribute to more than 10 million deaths every year by 2020,” says Dr Franco Cavalli, UICC president.

Voices of Hope
Former United States First Lady Barbara Bush, Her Royal Highness Lalla Salma of Morocco, Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, and tennis star Steffi Graf are among those lending their voices to the World Cancer Campaign with encouragement for those touched by cancer. [http://web0.uicc.org/wcc/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=61&Itemid=298]

The International Union Against Cancer
The UICC is a global resource for action with more than 270 member organizations in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle East and North America. [http://www.uicc.org/index.php?id=518] Since 2006, the UICC has taken on the responsibility of coordinating World Cancer Day globally, supported by members, partners, the World Health Organization [http://www.who.org] , the International Atomic Energy Agency [http://www.iaea.org/] and the other international bodies.