Dear Colleagues
Greetings of peace and blessing from URI-Africa.
This is to inform you that URI-Africa attended the 10th Annual Stop Cervical, Breast & Prostate Cancer in Africa Conference (SCCA) held at the African Union Commission (AUC), in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The theme of the 2016 meeting was: “A Decade of Accomplishments – Our enduring legacies and challenges ahead”.
The conference was convened by the Office of the First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Forum of African First Ladies Against Breast and Cervical Cancer in collaboration with the Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation.
H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia expressed his concern that cancer is increasing at an alarming rate in Africa, and it kills more people than HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. “It is time we stand together as one to fight this common disease which affects humanity”, the Prime Minster emphasized, “the time to put in place firm and effective mechanisms made available through education and access to healthcare.” He further committed to relentless efforts and political will to continue to make the health care system within Ethiopia and the continent at large more robust. The prime Minster of Ethiopia was decorated and appointed a Goodwill Ambassador on cancer 2016-2017 in Ethiopia by the Conference.
H.E. Mrs. Roman Tesfaye Abneh, First Lady of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and incoming Chairperson of the Forum of African First Ladies/Spouses Against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer 2016-2017 is championing the battle to stop breast, cervical and prostate cancer in Ethiopia.
In her welcoming remarks, she underscored the fact that 70% of all cancer related deaths globally occur in Africa. She said that it was due to lack of awareness of the disease which in most cases the affected person reports the disease when it is at an advance stage leading to little intervention and support. Furthermore, she noted women are the most significantly affected with long suffering as well as psychological trauma associated with cancer. The lack of adequately equipped medical facilities and access to quality and affordable treatment still pose a challenge in African. “We African First Ladies have recognized the need and urgency to fight against all forms of cancers and to advocate, create awareness at all levels of the continent” H.E. Mrs. Roman stressed. She added that cancer medications should be subsidized for more accessibility, and the African First Ladies must continue to use their platform to make certain that their voices are heard loud and clear at both national as well as continental levels to ensure accessibly of cancer medication to all.
H.E. Mrs. Margaret Kenyatta, First Lady of the Republic of Kenya and outgoing Chairperson of the Forum of African First Ladies/Spouses Against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer 2015-2016 in her remarks said “Cancer affects all of us directly or indirectly, and therefore it is up to the African Member States to invest, advocate and provide support at national as well as continental level.” She continued, saying, “We should ensure national health insurance, accessible chemotherapy for all and the vaccination for young adolescent girls as a preventive measure; we must involve politicians, policy makers and health workers all to fight against cancer.”
Princess Nikky Onyeri, Co-Founder and Director General, Forum of African First Ladies/Spouses Against Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer and Co-Founder, World Forum of First Ladies and Women presented the theme of the conference highlighting the core values of the Princess Nikky Breast Foundation: Advocacy and education, innovative tools for screening, access to medication and capacity building. She expressed her deep appreciation to H.E. Dr. Dlamini Nkosazana Zuma, Chairperson of the AUC for her commitment and forwarding the cancer agenda continentally.
