One year after the launch of the IsDB-IAEA Women’s Cancers Partnership Initiative, representatives of both organizations and beneficiary countries came together alongside donors to take stock of progress made thus far and leverage innovative ideas to fight women’s cancers. Around 250 participants attended this virtual event on the margins of the 64th IAEA General Conference, held in Vienna from 21-25 September.
Women in many low- and middle- income countries lack access to lifesaving cancer care, particularly for breast and cervical cancers. This Initiative intends to increase access to the diagnosis and treatment of these two cancers and builds on years of collaboration between the IAEA and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) to support common Member States in improving cancer control. Since its launch, the two organizations have worked to jumpstart implementation of the Initiative and bring additional partners on board to maximize the impact for women and girls.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi spoke of the progress achieved under the Initiative, which includes helping countries develop robust funding requests and mobilizing new partners and donors. “The Women’s Cancers Partnership Initiative with IsDB has already shown what can be achieved for our Member States with new financing, partners and strengthened relations with UN agencies. But this is just the beginning. This Partnership can and must go to higher heights.”
“As the global cancer burden continues to increase, international organisations, including multi-lateral development banks, are united in the desire to work together to address this challenge,” said Bandar Hajjar, IsDB President. “Developing new and strengthening existing partnerships is one of my key priorities for our Bank. I am very proud of this important Initiative to fight women’s cancers, which will contribute to saving over a million women’s lives from breast cancer and almost 4 million deaths from cervical cancer over the next decade.”
Bente Mikkelsen, Director of Non-Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organization (WHO), spoke of economic and geographical disparities in cancer care. “A woman with breast cancer living in sub-Saharan Africa has only a 20 or 30% likelihood of surviving five years, compared to 80 or 90% for women in Europe. This is not acceptable.” She also highlighted the WHO’s desire to build on its successful work with the IAEA, other UN partners and stakeholders to provide high-quality cancer care for all women with cancer around the world.
