Uganda to hold the maiden National Cancer Symposium Amidst uncertainties
It is projected by the International Agency for Research on Cancer that by 2040, there will be 77,510 new cancer cases per year, an increase of 138%.
The Ministry of Health, Uganda Cancer Institute, and the Uganda Cancer Society will hold the inaugural National Cancer Symposium on 7th December 2023 at Imperial Royale Hotel Kampala.
This year’s theme “Driving Change Together: Adopting the National Cancer Control Plan” is aimed at galvanizing stakeholders led by the government to speed up the adoption of the Uganda National Cancer Control Plan (UNCCP).
The UNCCP provides strategies to align and guide the different interventions to maximize investment and achieve the best outcomes. The UNCCP was originally a joint initiative crafted in 2018 by the Uganda Cancer Society and Uganda Cancer Institute.
The Plan seeks to bring on board as many actors as possible to foster national discussion and dialogue on cancer. Its overall goal is “To build concerted efforts for a systematic response against the cancer epidemic in Uganda through an inclusive process that harnesses the benefits of a multi-sectorial approach for greater impact.”
This year’s symposium is centered on rallying policymakers and key stakeholders in cancer control to recognize the urgency of addressing the cancer epidemic and take concrete steps toward adopting and implementing the UNCCP.
It will serve as a valuable platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices, facilitating the sharing of innovative approaches to cancer policy advocacy.
The Symposium is a very important policy engagement forum. It is even crucial at a time when the cancer burden in Uganda is on the rise. In 2020 alone, it was estimated that there were 34,008 new cancer cases, 22,992 cancer deaths, and 62,548 adults living with cancer in Uganda (International Agency for Research on Cancer and Cancer Statistics. GLOBOCAN 2020).
It is projected by the International Agency for Research on Cancer that by 2040, there will be 77,510 new cancer cases per year, an increase of 138%.
It is therefore important that strategies are put in place to curb the disease burden. The UNCCP therefore becomes a vital tool to control cancer based on the country’s cancer burden, cancer risk factors, prevalence, and other resources available to implement the plan in the context of our social-economic environment and health care system.
However, this plan requires a critical catalyst: increased political will from policymakers and partners in the development space for it to yield meaningful results and transform the landscape of cancer control in Uganda.
