Addis Ababa
Ethiopia
Background
Causing more than 8.2 million deaths annually cancer is one of the top killer diseases of our time. The estimated number of 14 million plus new cases occurring every year is expected to increase by 70% in the next two decades. With the majority of cancer cases and deaths now occurring in low- and middle-income countries Africa is suffering the heavy burden of this serious public health crisis. A large proportion of cancers in Africa is diagnosed at an advanced stage of the disease where curative treatment is no longer an option. This is due to the lack of screening and early detection services, as well as limited awareness of early signs and symptoms of cancer among the public and health care providers. Fear of Stigma associated with cancer also plays a role in late-stage presentation of the disease in most parts of Africa. Because many African countries lack adequate number of health facilities that can provide specialized treatment and palliative care, cancer patients are faced with long waiting period and considerable treatment costs that are beyond their economic means. With Cervical and cervical and breast cancers being the leading causes of cancer related deaths in Africa the burden of the disease in women is much worse. Gender inequalities, weak economic power of women and absence of screening and early diagnoses services contribute to the increasing number of preventable deaths of women.
The overwhelming demand for cancer treatment and care, the fragile public health system in many African nations coupled with the absences of national cancer control plan and supportive policy and financial frameworks is causing serious social and economic crises that call for an immediate and coordinated action to prevent and control cancer in Africa.
The Stop Cervical Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference is one response among many to this alarming situation. The conference is an annual event dedicated to contributing to the efforts of ending Cervical Breast & Prostate Cancer in Africa. The 10th SCCA conference will be held 24 – 27 July 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The conference is organized under the patronage of H.E Roman Tesfaye Abneh First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The organizational work of the conference is undertaken by dedicated inter-ministerial committees in partnership with Princess Nikky Cancer Foundation.