[health-vn] CANCER FIGHT IN DEVELOPING WORLD GETS BOOST FROM JOINT UN INITIATIVE

[Vern Weitzel]

Subject: CANCER FIGHT IN DEVELOPING WORLD GETS BOOST FROM JOINT UN INITIATIVE
Date: Tue, 26 May 2009 19:00:02 -0400
From: UNNews <UNNews at un.org>
To: <news9 at secint00.un.org>

CANCER FIGHT IN DEVELOPING WORLD GETS BOOST FROM JOINT UN INITIATIVE
New York, May 26 2009  7:00PM
Two United Nations agencies are launching a joint initiative aimed at 
strengthening and accelerating efforts to fight cancer in developing countries, 
using their respective strengths in the areas of health and radiation medicine.

Cancer is projected to be among the leading causes of deaths worldwide, with 
more than 70 per cent of all fatalities occurring in low- and middle-income 
countries, according to the World Health Organization 
(<"http://www.who.int/en/">WHO), which has teamed up with the International 
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the Joint Programme on Cancer Control.

“In low- and middle-income countries, cancer overwhelmingly affects the poor. 
This has huge implications for human suffering, health systems, health budgets 
and the drive to reduce poverty,” said WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, who 
signed the new agreement with 
<"http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/PressReleases/2009/prn200908.html">IAEA 
Director General Mohamed ElBaradei.

“The IAEA has long provided radiation technology and expertise to developing 
countries, but radiotherapy alone cannot halt the growing global cancer crisis,” 
said Mr. ElBaradei.

“The Joint Programme with WHO underlines our conviction that only through 
combined effort and collaboration can we bring hope and relief to those whose 
lives are threatened by cancer.”

The new initiative will set the stage for the two agencies to work together, 
building on their areas of expertise to create a more coordinated and robust 
approach to combating cancer in poor countries.

In a related development, Dr. Chan has appointed Nancy Goodman Brinker, founder 
of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, as WHO Goodwill Ambassador for 
Cancer Control.

Ms. Brinker, a former United States Ambassador to Hungary, businesswoman, health 
care advocate and philanthropist, will raise awareness of the need for 
comprehensive cancer control policies, with an emphasis on poor countries.

“The disease burden has shifted from wealthier to less affluent countries, and 
her advocacy will help in building awareness in low- and middle-income 
countries,” said Dr. Chan.
________________

For more details go to UN News Centre at http://www.un.org/news