Your Excellencies, dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my pleasure to welcome you today to this joint WHO/IAEA seminar on Implementation of National Cancer Control Programmes through a Primary Health Care Approach.
The IAEA launched its Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), a few months before the World Health Assembly approved its resolution on cancer prevention and control in 2005. That resolution called upon the Directors General of the IAEA and WHO to work together towards a joint programme. I am pleased to note that a WHO/IAEA Joint Programme on Cancer Control is now being implemented. One of the outcomes is this meeting here in Mongolia. WHO and the IAEA have complementary mandates in fighting cancer. Our Member States have made it clear that they want us to work closely together in developing countries.
I will begin by assuring you that the IAEA wishes to continue strengthening its already strong ties with the WHO as our core partner in the global fight against cancer. I am personally committed to this and to the promotion of effective cancer control that is integrated into national health care systems throughout the developing world.
I have made cancer a high priority during my first year as Director General of the IAEA. This was illustrated notably by the Scientific Forum on cancer in developing countries which we held in Vienna in September. We were greatly honoured by the presence of the First Lady of Mongolia, Ms Khajidsuren Bolormaa, at this event. I will spare no effort to ensure that the IAEA´s expertise in radiation medicine is successfully used in our Member States.
As you know, many significant healthcare needs can effectively be addressed using nuclear and radiation techniques. The IAEA has a unique competence in this field among United Nations organizations. We play an important role in health issues involving the diagnostic and therapeutic administration of radiation for medical purposes. We are also active in assessing health effects resulting from accidental irradiation.
Nevertheless, the IAEA recognizes that our capacity-building programmes have to be supplemented by cancer prevention activities and by screening campaigns to ensure early diagnosis and improve cancer survival. Achieving sustainable healthcare delivery requires extensive collaboration with other key international players at country level. Our PACT programme aims to create a unifying vision and operational framework to ensure we achieve the maximum public health impact in Member States. We also aim to facilitate donor interest and to help place cancer on the global development agenda.
My presence here today illustrates the IAEA´s commitment to implementing its mandate in partnership with the WHO and other key organisations. The Agency´s work involves building radiation medicine capacity in a country. But we recognise that radiation medicine is only one component of comprehensive cancer control. Our cooperation with WHO, with its broader approach to public health, means the needs of entire populations can be addressed in a holistic manner. This includes the vitally important area of cancer prevention. It is gratifying that this innovative joint approach has won broad support from Member States and other partner organisations.
This seminar will review the progress of the joint PACT Model Demonstration Site projects and examine WHO´s important mechanisms for more effective implementation of national cancer control programmes. I see the model demonstration sites as a basis for further collaboration at country and regional level. They also showcase the synergies that international partners can achieve by working with national counterparts to build comprehensive cancer capacity.
I am pleased that significant work has already been carried out by the authorities in the eight model demonstration site countries. These should become models for comprehensive cancer care and integrated non-communicable disease planning throughout the developing world. They should also be models for resource mobilisation and for raising public awareness of the growing burden of non-communicable diseases, especially cancer, in the developing world.
Before closing, I wish to thank the Mongolian authorities who have made this important seminar possible. I also thank Dr Chan, the Director General of WHO, for her continuous support and full commitment to the Joint Programme on Cancer Control. I thank the WHO representatives, the invited experts Professor Burton and Professor Trapido, my IAEA colleagues and all of you for your participation in this seminar.
Together, we have a real opportunity to improve cancer survival in developing countries. Together, we can save thousands of lives if we share the tools, the knowledge and the political will to fight cancer effectively. The IAEA is fully committed to this endeavour.
Thank you and best wishes for a successful meeting.