Cancer Conference to be hosted in country
First Lady Madame Penehupifo Pohamba exchanging banter with a young cancer patients during the media campaign launch at the Windhoek Central Hospital.
The conference will be held from 20 to 22 July in Windhoek.
The Office of the First Lady announced that the conference is set to have untold value for the country, most notable of which will be the transfer of knowledge. In addition, the desired outputs of the conference will include:,enhanced capacity, alliance- building, and learning exchange for improved Policy, Legal and Programme management on cancer of the reproductive system,soliciting high- level political commitment and support against cancers of the reproductive system.
The Conference was borne out of the realization that there is need for an increase in awareness and education about cancer across the African continent and in this regard it aims to encourage health ministries across Africa to place high-level attention to prevention, treatment and palliation of cancers.
Through its Annual Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference and Global Summit on Women Cancers in Africa, the Forum for African First Ladies against Breast and Cervical Cancer founded by Ms Princess NikkyOnyeri, from Nigeria, in 2007 has worked tirelessly on creating awareness about cancer on the continent.
African Parliamentarians and Health Ministers against Cancer, which was launched in 2010 has also lent their support to issues of cancer across Africa. Cancer Action Plans, mainly for breast, prostate and cervical cancer, are being drawn up by African Governments and Health Ministers for their countries.
In addition, through the activities of the Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, African Heads of State, Presidents, First Ladies, Parliamentarians and Health Ministers are supporting cancer prevention in Africa. In recognition of its progressive public health strategies, the country has been selected to host the conference under the office of the First Lady, who is the Conference Patron.
The goal of the conference is to discuss matters of cancer of the reproductive system in order to contribute to the development of strategic actions that will help in the reduction of these cancers.
It will further interrogate the status of cancer in the context of sexual and reproductive health and rights in the continent with particular focus on girls, adolescents, youth, women and men of reproductive age.The conference will be attended by various stakeholders including First Ladies from across the continent, Ministers of Health, Parliamentarians, medical experts on the subject of cancer and its prevention, treatment and research as well as other stakeholders.
