Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Colleagues.
I am very pleased to open this IAEA Signature Event marking World Cancer Day 2016.
Let me begin by thanking Ms Margit Fischer, First Lady of Austria, for her patronage of this important gathering.
I am also very grateful to Dr Mahamadou, First Lady of Niger, for her video address. And I thank Dr Oberhauser, Federal Minister of Health of Austria, and all our distinguished panellists, for joining us here today.
Improving cancer control in developing countries is an enormous and complex challenge.
The International Atomic Energy Agency, which will start celebrating its 60th anniversary later this year, has been working for decades to provide its contribution, mainly in the fields of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine.
There are now positive signs that the broader international community is taking the cancer challenge seriously.
I was in New York last September when world leaders adopted the Sustainable Development Goals.
For the first time, they committed themselves to reducing early deaths from chronic diseases, including cancer, by one third over the next 15 years.
I believe this is an achievable goal if governments, organisations such as the IAEA, key partners such as the World Health Organization, and non-governmental organisations, work together.
Cancer was once seen as almost incurable. However, remarkable improvements in cancer treatment, and greater accuracy in diagnosis and early detection, have made it possible for many patients to live longer and healthier lives.
But this is true mainly for developed countries, where advanced diagnostic and treatment services are in place.
Too many developing countries lack the personnel and equipment needed to provide timely diagnosis, and effective cancer treatments such as radiotherapy. In fact, nine out of 10 people in low-income countries have no access to radiotherapy.
I have just returned from a trip to six countries in Central America, during which I visited a number of hospitals. It was sobering to see the enormous challenges which doctors and nurses face in trying to treat cancer patients.
But I was also very impressed by the determination of these medical professionals to offer their patients the best possible care in difficult circumstances.
Cancer control was also a major issue for the government leaders whom I met in all six countries. They all want to improve cancer care for their people, and we at the IAEA are keen to help as much as possible.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I mentioned, the Agency works with partners such as the WHO to strengthen cancer control in developing countries.
Our work involves helping countries to establish and upgrade oncology and radiotherapy centres. We provide extensive training for health care professionals.
Our Programme of Action for Cancer Therapy – PACT – supports countries in using limited resources efficiently and effectively through a comprehensive cancer control strategy.
We have achieved a lot over the years and many lives have been saved. But the need is enormous and much more needs to be done.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The slogan of World Cancer Day this year is “We can. I can.”
I firmly believe that, together, we can do more. Our goal must be to ensure that, one day, all of the world’s people will have access to effective, quality, and affordable cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The IAEA will continue to make its specialist nuclear expertise available to help save lives.
Let us work together to overcome the complex challenges which we face and bring effective cancer services to all people in need, everywhere in the world.
Thank you.