Statistics show that cancer is the second leading cause of death globally, this is evident in the World Health Organization’s data which shows that an estimated 9.6 million deaths in 2018 were caused by cancer. About 1 in 6 deaths globally are caused by cancer with approximately 70% of deaths from cancer occurring in low and middle income countries. Of the 9.6 million deaths in 2018, lung cancer accounted for 2.09 million deaths, breast cancer (2.09 million cases), colorectal (1.80 million), prostate cancer (1.28 million), skin cancer (1.04 million), stomach (1.03 million). These numbers are worrying to policy makers and the entire global population. Hence, the need for continued actions and awareness campaigns about cancer.
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World Cancer Day
The World Cancer Day was established on February 4, 2000, during the World Cancer Summit Against Cancer for the New Millenium, held in Paris, France. It is an international observance day aimed at creating awareness about cancer, and encouraging moves to prevent, detect, and treat cancer. February 4 as World Cancer Day is a product of the Charter of Paris Against Cancer which was established to promote research, prevent cancer, and improve cancer patients services globally. The Charter also included an article establishing the anniversary of the official signing of the document as World Cancer Day by Kōichirō Matsuura, the then General Director of the United Nations Educational and Scientific Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and former French President, Jacques Chirac at the Summit held in Paris on February 4, 2000.
Led by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), and targeted at misinformation, awareness creation, and reducing stigma, the Day equally aims to support the World Cancer Declaration, written in 2008, which is focused on reducing illnesses and deaths caused by cancer. Also, the World Cancer Day is a unique opportunity to rally the international community to work towards ending the injustice of preventable suffering from cancer.
Observed by the United Nations annually, initiatives are created to support the movement against cancer. Popular among these initiatives is the #NoHairSelfie, a movement meant to encourage “hairticipants” to shave their heads physically or virtually to serve as a symbol of support and courage for patients undergoing cancer treatment in every part of the world as images of participants are shared and posted all over social media. Globally observed by the international cancer community, governments and individuals around the world, the Day is officially observed by the governments of at least 60 countries every year.
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World Cancer Day 2020: I am and I Will
This year’s theme ‘I Am and I Will,’ marks the midway through the 3-year awareness campaign aimed at our collective responsibility to the cause of preventing, detecting and treating cancer. World Cancer Day 2020 is an empowering call-to-action pushing for personal commitment and is clear representation of the power of I. Observations this year recognize that our commitment to act towards goals against cancer will lead to strong and powerful progress in reducing the impact of cancer globally. The need to move the global campaign against cancer individually forms the core of this year’s World Cancer Day.
Sources:
Who.int
Uicc.org
En.wikipedia
Featured Image Source: Business Post NG
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