voice of cancer call to action

8/4/2019 Voice of Cancer Call to Action

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our voices

call out as one

A National Call to Action for All South Africans

VOICE OF CANCERSURVIVOR FORUM 2011


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Info

O the nearly 21 000 cancer deaths recorded per day, worldwide,over two thirds occur in economically developing countries. SouthArica is one o these countries. Cancer aects every South Aricaneither fnancially or emotionally in some way.

Projections show that, cancer deaths worldwide may exceedcombined deaths rom malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS by

2030 making cancer one o the greatest threats to our societyand healthcare system.

I South Aricans are to curb the threat o this preventable andtreatable disease, we need to act now, through a ocused andcollaborative eort. Through one voice fghting or a common goal.


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Thirty percent of cancers are preventable, and

one-third of cancers are treatable if detectedearly but statistics dont put a voice to the burden

that cancer creates on those affected by it. It isthe stories and voices of cancer survivors, their

family and friends, and their communities thatshow its true destructive nature.

The Voice of CancerSurvivor Forum was held

to create an opportunity for cancer survivorsto express their needs regarding quality of care,

attitudes, practices, policies and services.It sought to bring together those affected by

cancer: cancer survivors, media, NGOs,advocates, the health sector and Government

to provide data, information and awareness of

the cancer burden and issues faced by South

Africans and in doing so spark an impetus byall to affect change.

As a result all of the 200 stakeholderrepresentatives who attended the Forum and

committed to taking collaborative action againstthe threat cancer poses to our health system by

adding their voice to a National Call to Action.

It is hoped that this commitment to the National

Call to Action will spur on activities by eachstakeholder group to actively nd strategies,

develop leadership and implement actions thatwill create a collective voice against cancer.

Cancer care services must be expanded and must become accessible andaffordable for all. By achieving this, many lives can be saved and the qualityof life improved for all patients with cancer.

The best way to improve service standards is to ask the patients themselves.

- alDrmaN DaN plat, Cap tWN xCutV mayr.


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We were proud to have local experts in cancer burden andassociated social issues bring to the fore information that

would help gauge the status quo of cancer in South Africa.However, the warmest welcome and thanks was to thesurvivors and advocates who shared their personal stories.Each story reminded me how survivors no longer needto be the silent heroes but can truly be South AfricasVoice of Cancer.

- Nl Krby,

CharprsN, CampagNNg fr CaNCr.


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The Voice o CnceForum brought

together over 250 people affected by

cancer in an effort to create a platformto address cancer issues and help breakdown the social stigmas associated

with cancer.

By partnering with Campaigning forCancer, as lead local agency, cancer

survivors and local cancer organisationshad the unique opportunity to tell

their stories.

Survivors and advocates spoke with

one voice to an audience of governmentleaders, healthcare professionals,

corporate heads and individualmembers of their community.

From the outset, the Forum aimed to:

Provide qualitative and quantitativeinformation that clearly highlighted

the cancer burden in South Africa,focusing on access to treatment,

care and quality of life.

Discuss the social issues related to

cancer in South Africa by creating

an encouraging platform for survivors,of all cultures, to share their stories.

Make stakeholders, government and

the general public aware of the needfor national strategies to increase

and improve cancer related services.

Discuss channels that could encourage

multi level stakeholder involvementin the development and

implementation of national strategiesto improve cancer-related services.

The Forum included presentations

from local experts in cancer burdenand social stigma. Themes of economics,

political will and ethical practice werealso addressed by Key Opinion Leaders.

Survivors and advocates spoke of thechallenges faced in their cancer

journey, civil society and governmenthighlighted existing intervention in

cancer control.


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We all have different yet complimentary roles in combating this disease.

We must collaborate in order to see meaningful change.

- thuNs btha, WstrN Cap mNstr f halth.

At the end o Day 2 a ramework or participation wasdeveloped and adopted by all Forum participants.

The presentations, stories, questions asked and thoughtsshared resulted in the ollowing agreements beingreached by attending stakeholders:

It was agreed that cancer survivors have a valid reasonto make a case with regards to inequalities in quality

access to treatment and care and that we have the rightto quality healthcare as enshrined in our constitution.

The power of survivors stories was acknowledgedas a voice for the voiceless.

The importance of working together to combat ourcancer burden was acknowledged.

It was agreed that through dened collaboration civil

society could speak with one voice to be a powerfultool to affect change for all cancer survivors.

The opportunity and value of sharing each others points

of view was acknowledged and it was agreed that

change comes when we choose to commit to it.

It was agreed that it is a human right of each citizen toaccess each aspect of the cancer continuum that is

timeous and is free from stigma and discrimination.

The role of the media in educating the general

public about cancer and making cancer voices heardwas acknowledged.

During the Forum, the civil societys declaration of

unity was based on the founding principle that it wouldbe disrespectful of the courage and conviction shown

by each survivor telling their story not to develop a callto action that would act as a mandate to guide all

actions that strove to ensure a better journey for allcancer survivors.


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LIVESTRONG is proud to stand with Campaigningfor Cancer, the American Cancer Society and all the

participating organisations to present the Voice ofCancer Survivor Forum, a landmark event andsignicant advancement for the ght against cancerin South Africa. This effort is turning statistics intostories, bringing visibility to gaps in cancer controland highlighting the need for cancer to be a stronger

priority on the countrys health agenda.

- Dug ulmaN,

prsDNt aND C, lVSTRONG.


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The collaboration of civil society into a cancer

coalition with mandated representatives and

publically highlighted strategies.

A comprehensive South African voice andsupport of the UN resolution and high level

meeting on the prevention and control ofnon-communicable diseases taking place in

New York, September 2011 and theintegration of NCDs into the Millennium

Development Goals.

The ollowing themes were highlighted aspriorities to orm the basis or collaborative

strategies and actions or the Voice o CancerNational Call to Action:

tHeMe 1:MAKE CANCER A PRIORITY

Establishment of a National Cancer Advisory

Council by the Minister of Health that has therequired stakeholders represented as dened

in the Health Act.

We all have a duty to participate as a collective

to ensure that each individuals experience

becomes the cornerstone of a National Callto Action.


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tHeMe 3:

CANCER REGISTRIES AND DATA

A cancer registry, in line with IARC

recommendations, that is well fundedand resourced, accurate, maintained,

has information and ndings that areaccessible and which data and incidences

are utilised by stakeholders to makedecisions regarding the management

of South Africas cancer burden.

tHeMe 2:

THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL

CANCER CONTROL PLAN A national cancer control plan that is succinct

and implementable, with quality access for

all that has been developed in consultationwith stakeholders must be nalised and

implemented as a matter of urgency.


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tHeMe 4:

INVESTMENT AND FUNDING FOR EDUCATION,TRAINING AND INFRASTRUCTURE

Budget and funding relating to control cancer care

services must be prioritised and controlled atNational Government level.

Discrepancies in access to quality cancer care inprovinces needs to be assessed and strategies to

ensure equality of care for all South Africans becreated and invested in effective cancer control

initiatives, services and resources.

Cancer education, including preventative strategies,

at all levels is imperative and should include survivorstories in order to highlight the social impact

cancer has on South African communities.

Cancer education must be included in healthcare

practitioners and providers education curriculumsnationally and include the roll out and creation of

appropriate awareness elements.

tHeMe 5:

REDUCING STIGMA AND DISCRIMINATIONFOR CANCER PATIENTS AND SURVIVORS Any Regulation that denes cancer as treatable

or untreatable is unacceptable and must be

changed in order ensure that the constitutionalrights of cancer patients and survivors are not

infringed upon.

Elimination of discrimination of cancer patients in

their workplace and in communities through anationally focused campaign to de-stigmatise

cancer, with evidence based and culturally relevantinformation that addresses the social needs of

patients and survivors and their rights to respectand dignity.

This call to action is not a militant declaration, nger

pointing or blame allocating document but ratheran appreciation of our obligations and duties to allSouth Africans affected by cancer. For it is not a time

to rest on our laurels due to the fact that the problemhas been out-sourced or delegated to a third party.

This Call to Action is a declaration of our readiness tostand together to implement and maintain a watchful

eye over efforts that will ensure that South Africas

cancer burden is signicantly reduced.


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This is a pivotal year for all of us to step up witha unied voice and continue the drumbeat at every

opportunity. The united voice that South Africanleaders, advocates and cancer survivors presentedat the Voice of Cancer Forum is a model for othercountries around the world. Along with LIVESTRONG,the American Cancer Society is honoured to be partof this historic event.

- JhN r. sffrN, phD

Chf xCutV ffCr,

amrCaN CaNCr sCty.


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The Sunflower Fund is committed to the Voice

of Cancer National Call to Action as we would

like to see Government prioritise cancer on theSA Health Agenda. We would also like to see anup-to-date cancer registry in SA that will enable

cancer stats and information to be readilyavailable to all stakeholders.

- tNa btha, C th suNflWr

fuND aND surVVr.

Cancer needs aggressive and passionate action

on an on-going basis. It is about time we hada united voice against Cancer in South Africa

to keep focus on our cause and keep us focusedon our goals. We at The Vrede Foundation are

committed to Voice of Cancers National Callto Action as well as the other NGOs and

Stakeholders who are part of the initiative.- brNaDtt KstNg, (C-fuNDr)

th VrD fuNDatN.


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Our greatest wish is that the stakeholders who

are in a position to prioritise the cancer burden

will indeed do so - the lives of all cancer patientsin South Africa will then improve with necessarychanges made in policy, treatment and care.

That all cancer patients have rights - includingthe right to access equitable and quality care

We are committed to Voice of Cancer NationalCall to Action.

- raCh fr rCVry brastCaNCr supprt grup.

We hope the unied voice of cancer survivorswill be heard and the cancer burden in our

country will be addressed at national level.

As a cancer survivor group, we the amaBele

Belles, wish to add our voice to the Voice ofCancer National Call to Action.

- mChll rNN, amabl bl

aND surVVr.


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Cancer is becoming more common in younger patients as it affects family dynamics to have a loved

one, breadwinner, or child fall ill. Fair healthcare and education for all = empowerment = unitedVoice of Cancer.

- NlN KtsChaN, fuNDr aND DrCtr f pNKDrV.

Poverty, ignorance and lack of functional literacy are killing the children of South Africa unnecessarily.

CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA is committed to driving the awareness of childhoodcancer into the community. Cancer is often masked by other diseases e.g. HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria

and only once these are brought under control is the cancer detected. Only through education willthese children survive.

We hereby commit to the Voice of Cancer National Call to Action.

- fraNCs pNz, C ChC ChlDhD CaNCr fuNDatN sa aND surVVr.


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It is civil societys responsibility to make this a working document, collaborating together, with onevoice, to achieve change for the better in cancer care. Civil society plays a key role in agreeing to

cancer plans that will secure better cancer control and cancer services for patients. Cancer is a globalpriority, and should be a national priority for South Africa.

The collaborative effort from NGOs on the Call to Action is long overdue and in this unied effort,we will make sure we get results.

- lNDa grff, ppl lVNg Wth CaNCr DrCtr aND surVVr.


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N Kirby (Chairman), C Battley (Canadian), S L Galliet,

C Davies, L Marthinus, F Magongoa, S D Moodley, C Liebenberg

Contact Details Lead Agency:Campaigning for Cancer(Association Incorporated under section 21Companies Act) 2001/028068/07

T: 0861ASK NOW (275669)

E: [email protected]

F: + 27 86 684 8187

Twitter: @Voice_of_Cancer

PO: Postnet Suite 297, P/Bag X87,Bryanston, South Africa

We as South Africas cancer survivors, civil society and

stakeholders commit to take a stand and to be counted

by particpating in a strategy that will focus on makingcancer care a priority for and to all South Africans.

We hereby sign our commitment

to this Voice of Cancer Call to Action:

voice of cancer call to action

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