Today, 4th February 2022 marks World Cancer Day. In this year, the global initiative of 2022 scripts the first year of a new three year campaign involving the issue of equity in cancer care. The new campaign for world cancer day (2022 - 2024), a three year campaign for impact revolves around the theme " closing the care gap". The theme focuses on recognizing and acknowledging the barriers for several cancer patients globally, and provides them with the ease of care they require. The annual event is organized by the union for international cancer control (UICC) to instigate better cancer awareness that may further help for early detection, protection and treatment of the disease. The cancer day was initiated with an official consignment by the charter of Paris against cancer at the summit by the then General Director of UNESCO. Mr. Koichiro Matsuura.
World Cancer Day was first initiated in the year 2000." Iam, and l will" is the slogan for World Cancer Day. The ribbon or tag forms a major part of the exercise around cancer. Each cancer is recognized by a different ribbon colour. Each year, 10million people die from cancer. Nearly 70% of cancer deaths occur in low to middle income countries. People with low income, lack of education and disabilities faces considerable barriers in accessing care for cancer. Transgender populations and refugees are some groups that are often unable to get proper treatment until their cancer has progressed to an advance stage. According to recent statistics by the union for international cancer control (UICC) the five years survival rate for cervical cancer is 71% for white women and 58% for black women in the united states. Cancer patients face countless challenges due to poor social-economic status, inadequate infrastructure and inefficiencies in the health care system. Early detection and diagnosis awareness is key to cancer treatment.
As one of the world's leading causes of death, cancer remains a growing problem inspite of the fact that many cancers can be treated, prevented or cured. Care for cancer, like many other diseases, reflects the inequalities of our world, particularly between wealthier and poorer countries. A cancer diagnosis has the potential to push families into poverty, particularly in lower income countries, an effect that has been made worse during the pandemic. We must lay emphasis more on creating equitable access to cancer services. The campaign is all about understanding and recognizing the inequities in cancer care around the world. Let's come together and act on providing life saving treatment and care for all individuals suffering from the disease.
According to the world heath organization (WHO) an estimated 20million people were diagnosed with cancer, and 10million lives were lost as a result of this deadly disease in 2021. Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide, representing nearly 1 in 6 deaths globally (source: WHO). Sadly, it is projected that these numbers will continue to rise if efforts and resources are not galvanized to close the care gap. Now more than ever, we need to improve access to cancer care and raise more awareness on how to prevent, detect and treat this disease in a timely manner. We must begin to identify and address the barriers that prevent people from accessing cancer care, while strengthening our health systems to provide quality cancer care. A recent world heath organization (WHO) survey found that cancer services are covered by a country's largest government health financing scheme in an estimated 37% of low and middle countries, compared to at least 78% of high income countries. Comprehensive treatment is reportedly available in more than 90% of high income countries but less than 15% of low income countries. There is equity gap in almost every country that prevents people from certain economic strata full access to essential health care services. This is costing lives. Let's get involved and close the equity gap.
Half of the world's population lacks access to the full range of essential health services and many are denied basic cancer care. Why does this arise? Reasons are due to differences in income and educational levels, geographical location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle. The continuum of universal health coverage (UHC) includes promotion, prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Every country's health care system should include robust palliative care services as without it health care is not universal. Cancer has ravaged many families, not just on health and physical side but also economically. Many families have fallen into struggle or even economic devastation, this should not be happening. Everyone deserves a chance to get treatment and it should not be reserved just for the rich and privileged because it affects us all. Access to cancer prevention, care and cure should not be determined or affected by religion, ethnic group, race, gender, geographical location, peer group and or wealth. Lives are lost everyday to cancer and to win this fight, we must come together irrespective of our various diversities.
Cancer can be treated and many can be prevented. Cancer mortality can be reduced if cases are detected and treated early. All cancer can be eliminated easily by early detection and screening. Early detection of cancer can also reduces chances of serious and more painful therapies that are needed in later stages. There are two major enabling factors for early detection:
(1) Education and awareness to promote early diagnosis.
(2) Screening tests to detect them early. Government hospitals should have free mammogram facilities to all which helps in curbing this dreaded disease with earlier detection. Millions of lives could be saved each year by implementing resource appropriate strategies for prevention, early detection and treatment. The total annual economic cost of cancer is estimated at $1.6trillion. I encourage individuals and organizations to seriously advocate for the closing of the care gap in all countries of the world, and to vigorously promote cancer prevention whenever they have the opportunity to do so. To mark this day, as an activist of a cancer free world, l light a candle in honour of all the fighters, survivors and those who lost their lives in this battle. May the candle burn until a cure is found.
#WorldCancerDay2022 #ClosingTheCareGap #WHO #UNICEF #UICC #undpnigeria #undp #euinnigeria #usinnigeria #ukinnigeria #japan_in_nigeria #worldbank #unitednations.
BRIEF PERSONAL PROFILE OF ENOBONG EKWERE - SOCIAL ACTIVIST/ DEVELOPMENT EXPERT IN NIGERIA.
Comrade Enobong Ekwere is a social influencer, blogger, vlogger, human rights activist, peace practitioner, grassroot social mobilizer, SDGs advocate and a global citizen. Enobong Ekwere also have vast knowledge and professional expertise in copy writing, content creation, online and offline media campaigning. He is the program manager of children and young people living for peace (CYPLP), an organic, volunteer of experts, youth focused and a think-tank non-governmental organization based in Kaduna state, Nigeria. A Higher National Diploma (HND) graduate of Public Administration (Upper Credit) from the Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State, Nigeria. Enobong Ekwere holds a proficiency certificate in management from the Nigerian Institute of Management, Chartered (NIM) Lagos, Nigeria. He is also a graduate member of the institute (Associate member in view). He works with young people in local communities across Nigeria localizing the sustainable development goals (SDGs) (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) and positive peace frameworks in Nigeria, accelerating action online and offline, engaging duty bearers and policy makers to be accountable for it's implementation by 2030. He is a strong advocate of peace, good governance and democracy, accountability in government, freedom of information, freedom of expression, access to information, free press, social justice and social inclusion. As a youth advocate and a global leader who loves to see social reforms in the society, he uses his personalized blog to write compelling stories on developmental and topical issues on national and global concern that shapes and transform people's lives and impact the larger society for knowledge transfer and lifelong learning. He engages in community service and volunteerism, community outreach, social mobilization and advocacy tours to hard to reach local communities in Nigeria advocating and advancing the cause of the SDGs (SDG16+ SDG4 and SDG5 in particular) so that no community and youth in Kaduna state and Nigeria at large would be left behind. CYPLP as an organization works primarily in serving vulnerable population of children, youth, elderly persons, people living with disabilities (PLWD's) and women in unserved, underserved, underrepresented and marginalized local communities in Nigeria.
My areas of competence in peace education and peace building process includes;
1. Conflict mapping, sensitivity and analysis
2. Negotiation, mediation and reconciliation
3. Interreligious and intercultural dialogue
4. Protection of civilians
5. Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration (DDR)
6. Security sector reforms (SSR)
7. Mainstreaming gender in peace keeping
8. Mainstreaming gender in peace and state building
9. Crisis management/resolution
10. Media and conflict
11. Conflict and natural resources
12. Conflict prevention
13. Peace support operations (PSOs)
14. Post- conflict reconstruction and development
15. Humanitarian action
16. Transnational organized crime
17. Piracy and maritime security
18. Preventing violent extremism (PVE) etc.
Enobong Ekwere has an extensive professional working experience in projects such as;
1. PRELT (Prevention of radicalization and extremism leading to terrorism)
2. BRAVE (Building resilience against violent extremism)
3. iDOVE (Interfaith dialogue on violent extremism) in local communities across Kaduna state and Nigeria at large.
I have initiated two projects to counter religious and violent extremism among the youths in local communities in Nigeria, and one empowerment program, these are;
1. CAARE ( Countering Attitudes Against Religious Extremism)
2. CAAVE (Countering Attitudes Against Violent Extremism)
3. NEET (Not in Education, Empowerment or Training) an empowerment training program aimed at training vulnerable population of young people in local communities in Nigeria with leadership skills, entrepreneurial and vocational skills acquisition.
He can be reached via:
Tel/WhatsApp: +2347082558952
Email: julyenobong2020@gmail.com
: enobongekwere825@gmail.com
MY PERSONAL SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/enobong.ekwere.372
TWITTER:
http://www.twitter.com/Enobongekwere2
INSTAGRAM:
http://www.instagram.com/enobongekwere825
LINKEDIN:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/enobong-ekwere-3271b116b
MY ORGANIZATION'S SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES:
FACEBOOK:
https://www.facebook.com/cyplp.net.ng/
TWITTER:
http://www.twitter.com/youngpeoplefor/
INSTAGRAM:
http://www.instagram.com/cyplp/
WEBSITE:
www.cyplp.net.ng
Comments
Post a Comment