The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will mark World Cancer Day by hosting a series of events to highlight advances made in saving lives from cancer and the need to support countries in providing basic cancer care.
The World Cancer Day 2016 programme, which includes the participation of IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano and government ministers and dignitaries from Austria, Honduras and Niger, is as follows:
3 February – Scientific lecture – Vienna International Centre
12:00-13:30 Boardroom B, M Building
- Professor Christoph Zielinski, Director of the Clinical Division of Oncology and Department of Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna – Vienna General Hospital
“New concepts in diagnosis and treatment of cancer – New challenges to the world”
- May Abdel-Wahab, Director of IAEA’s Division of Human Health
“The changing landscape – Recent advances in radiotherapy”
A Q&A session will take place after the lecture. Interviews with individual speakers can be organized upon request.
4 February – World Cancer Day Expo – Vienna International Centre
11:30-14:00 Rotunda, C Building
The IAEA will showcase its work in supporting countries to expand access to cancer control.
The event will be inaugurated by Aldo Malavasi, Acting-Director General and Deputy Director General of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, with statements from Nelly Enwerem-Bromson, the Director of the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT) and May Abdel-Wahab, Director of IAEA’s Division of Human Health.
8 February – “The Enemy Within”, UNIS Ciné ONU Vienna screening
18:30-20:30 Topkino, Rahlgasse 1, 1060 Vienna
Science journalist and author Vivienne Parry, OBE, tells the incredible story of the fight against cancer over the last 50 years. The screening, organized in collaboration with United Nations Information Service (UNIS), will be followed by a discussion with Nelly Enwerem-Bromson, Director of IAEA’s PACT, Mona Knotek-Roggenbauer, President of Europa Donna, Austria and Stephan Mildschuh, Study author, Gesundheit Österreich. It will be moderated by Martin Nesirky, Director, UNIS.
9 February – Roundtable discussion – Vienna International Centre
16:00-18:00 Boardroom C, C Building
“Joining forces to win the global battle against cancer”
Held under the Patronage of Margit Fischer, First Lady of Austria and hosted by the IAEA, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health of Austria and the Organization of International Economic Relations (OiER).
Highlighting this year’s World Cancer Day theme, We Can, I Can, panellists will offer their international and national perspectives on how strong partnerships to address cancer can bring considerable benefits. Discussion will also focus on improving access to cancer care services to all in need, and on showing that progress against this disease is achievable.
The discussion will be moderated by Sonja Kato-Mailath-Pokorny, CEO of Unikato-communications, Austria.
The event will be formally opened by the following distinguished guests:
- Dr Sabine Oberhauser, MAS, Federal Minister of Health, Austria
- Dr Malika Issoufou Mahamadou, First Lady of Niger
- Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General
The expert panel includes:
- Dr Yolani Batres, Minister of Health, Honduras
- Rakiatou Kaffa, Minister of Development, Niger
- Dr Ernest Belembaogo, Director, National Cancer Hospital, Libreville, Gabon
- Neira Kameric, Bosnian Cancer Survivor Network “MlaadiCe BiH”
- Nicole Denjoy, Vice-Chair of the Global Trade Association for the Medical Imaging, Radiation Therapy and Healthcare IT Industry
A Q&A session will take place after the panel discussion. Interviews with individual speakers can be organized upon request.
Background:
Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. It claimed 8.2 million lives in 2012. A target within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs) looks to intensify efforts against non-communicable diseases, including cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that by 2030, more than 13 million people will die of cancer every year. 69% of these deaths are expected to occur in developing countries, which are often ill prepared to cope with this increasing threat to public health and socio-economic development. More than a third of premature cancer deaths could be averted if cases are detected and treated early, but many low and middle income countries lack appropriate health infrastructure, including radiotherapy facilities, to provide such life-saving services. 26 African countries have no radiotherapy units at all. In order to increase cancer survival rates, access to early detection, diagnostic and treatment services must be dramatically improved.
World Cancer Day aims to raise awareness of the growing global cancer burden and inspire the world to take action to tackle its effects. For more than 30 years, the IAEA has supported Member States in improving capacities to deliver cancer detection, diagnosis, treatment and palliative care services, and has advocated the sustainable integration of radiation medicine into national cancer control planning. Through the Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy (PACT), the Agency works with international partners including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC), to develop and implement comprehensive national cancer control programmes in countries in order to use limited resources efficiently and effectively. The IAEA plays a key role in mobilizing resources in support of cancer-related projects and initiatives throughout developing countries.
Accreditation:
All journalists are requested to inform the IAEA Press Office of their plans to attend. Journalists with permanent credentials to the VIC need no additional credentials. We encourage those journalists who do not yet have permanent accreditation, to request it at UNIS Vienna.
Others should contact Ingeborg Pucher for accreditation. Please email press@iaea.org or call [43-1] 2600-21273.