Building Strategic Alliances
To respond to the rising incidence of cancer in the developing world, in June 2003 the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) issued a call for action "through concerted efforts by all sectors to prevent and treat cancer throughout the world." The WHO and UICC challenged "international organizations, governments, institutions and individuals from all sectors, public and private, to work together to reverse the trends by addressing common risk factors, providing recommended treatment, and planning effectively at national and regional levels."
Because of the important role of radiation therapy and nuclear medicine in cancer treatment the IAEA has a central role to play. It is the only international organization with a specific mandate to improve human health through the use of nuclear and radiation techniques, for example, for prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and palliation. However cancer treatment should be carried out in a context of a sound national cancer control programme, including prevention, early diagnosis, and adequate follow-up care, much of which is outside the mandate of the IAEA. If it is to confront this challenge, the IAEA must collaborate closely with others to address all aspects of the problem and to mobilize resources. The World Health Organization (WHO), its regional offices and the International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) are especially important. Their activities, together with IAEA efforts on cancer therapy, cover the full spectrum of the health-disease continuum from prevention to end-of-life care. In May, 2005 the World Health Assembly adopted a resolution on Cancer Prevention and Control (WHA58.22), which welcomed the IAEA's PACT initiative and requested the Director Gernal of WHO to explore the feasibility of inititating the development of a joint programme between WHO and IAEA on cancer prevention, control, treatment and research. Clearly, additional partners are also needed from the public and private sectors around the world if resources are to be made available to meet human needs for cancer therapy.