This meeting was jointly organized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research and the Lalla Salma Association Against Cancer. The meeting also included a workshop on breast cancer control.
Cancer is an important health problem globally and in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. According to WHO mortality estimates, it is the fourth ranked cause of death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region after cardiovascular diseases, infectious/parasitic diseases and injuries.
It is estimated that cancer kills 272 000 people each year in the Region, more than HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined (241 000 deaths per year). In addition, the largest increase in cancer incidence among the WHO regions in the next 15 years is likely to be in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, in which projection modelling predicts an increase of between 100% and 180%.
The objectives of the meeting were to:
launch the regional cancer control strategy
establish a framework for the national adoption and implementation of the regional cancer control strategy and preparation of national work plans
review ongoing initiatives in the Region with respect to prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care.
The main objectives of the breast cancer control workshop were to:
identify obstacles to effective breast cancer control
propose feasible solutions, including educational or training tools
discuss methodologies and resource requirements
plan for the implementation of demonstration projects.
Related documents
Towards a strategy for cancer control in the Eastern Mediterranean Region [pdf 144Mb]
EM/RC56/R.4, October 2009, Resolution calling for Strategy for cancer prevention and control in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Arabic | English | French
EM/RC56/R.4, October 2009, Technical paper on strategy for cancer prevention and control in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Arabic | English | French
Related links
International Network for Cancer Treatment and Research
Lalla Salma Association Against Cancer
