C/Can 2025: City Cancer Challenge Inaugural Kumasi Executive Committee Meeting 07 February 2018
Opening Ceremony & Press Briefing (Morning Session – Open Press) The official opening events of C/Can 2025 in Kumasi began with the introduction of Nana Baffour Owusu Amankwatia IV as the Chairman of the Opening Ceremony, who made welcoming remarks to the assembled Executive Committee, UICC international guests, attendees from Kumasi, and members of the press, and reaffirmed his commitment to lead the fight in the war against cancer. A Welcome Address was made by Hon. Antwi Osei Assibey, Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, during which he highlighted the importance of Kumasi as the first C/Can 2025 city in Africa and the role the city would play as a leader for the continent. The Honourable Mayor shared his experience in Mexico City where Kumasi was officially announced as the next C/Can 2025 city, and commended the leaders and health professionals in Kumasi’s whose commitment and engagement helped to secure Kumasi’s selection. The Honourable Mayor also announced that an office space had been secured by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly and the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to house C/Can 2025 and the Kumasi Cancer Registry. The Regional Minister of Ashanti, Hon. Simon Osei Mensah spoke to the audience and press about the importance of addressing cancer, since it kills more than 7 million people annually – more than HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria combined. He committed Kumasi to be a leading city for C/Can 2025, providing an example not only for Africa, but for all cities around the world. The Honourable Minister highlighted the alignment of all levels of government in their commitment to C/Can 2025 and how their unified support for the initiative during the due diligence phase was responsible for Kumasi’s selection.
In closing, the Honourable Minister charged everyone present to contribute their knowledge and resources to this project, saying it will be an “all hands on deck” effort for the city of Kumasi. Ms. Melissa Rendler Garcia, Director of Regional Operations for C/Can 2025 spoke to the assembled audience and press about the City Cancer Challenge program and process. She highlighted the importance of local ownership of this initiative, saying that C/Can 2025 would be “for Kumasi, by Kumasi.” She also highlighted C/Can 2025’s multisectoral approach, which required the active engagement of all sectors and groups – including patients and survivors – and the importance of open and transparent collaboration. Ms. Rendler Garcia thanked all of the leaders and dignitaries present who have committed their support and made this initiative possible in Kumasi. Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health of Ghana concluded the program by welcoming all present to the inaugural meeting of the Kumasi Executive Committee on behalf of the President of Ghana and Ministry of Health. He noted that the composition of the Committee was carefully selected to ensure a successful and collaborative initiative. The Honourable Minister highlighted the fact that C/Can 2025 was aligned with NPP’s new manifesto, which includes a strong commitment to healthcare and specifically, cancer, which will be implemented through data driven policy. He closed by recalling the experience of announcing Kumasi’s selection at the World Cancer Leaders Summit in Mexico City, when “Ghana was on top of the world,” and committing to reduce cancer deaths in Ghana by 25% by 2025. Closing remarks and a powerful “call to action” for the government were made by the Chair, Nana Baffour Owusu Amankwatia IV. He called upon all present to commit to this program and support C/Can 2025. 1
Executive Committee Meeting (Afternoon Session – Closed to Executive Committee Only) Following the Opening Ceremonies, the newly formed C/Can 2025 Kumasi Executive Committee met in a closed session with the C/Can 2025 International Team.
Attendance Executive Committee Members Present:
UICC Staff Present:
Hon. Antwi Osei Assibey, Metropolitan Chief Executive, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (Chair)
Ms. Melissa Rendler-Garcia, C/Can 2025 Director of Regional Operations, UICC
Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health, Ghana Ministry of Health
Dr. Rolando Camacho, C/Can 2025 Global Special Advisor, UICC
Mr. Dennis Laryea, Program Manager for NonCommunicable Diseases, Ghana Health Service
Dr. Jose Jeronimo, C/Can 2025 Lead Coordinator, City Needs Assessment, UICC
Mr. Michael Bapambe Ataogye, Metropolitan Coordinating Director, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
Dr. Happy Agoudavi, C/Can 2025 Regional Director for Africa, UICC
Dr. Ernest Osei-Bonsu, Oncology Department Head, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Prof. Daniel Ansong, Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, KNUST Prof. Ellis Owusu Dabo, Dean of School of Public Health, KNUST Ms. Patience Yeboah Ampong, Director of Nursing, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Mrs. Vivian Gyasi Sarfo, President of Peace and Love Survivors Association, Breast Care International Dr. Baffour Awuah, Kumasi Registry Director and Medical Director, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, President and CEO, Peace and Love Hospital, Breast Care International Dr. Alberta Britwum-Nyarko, Metropolitan Health Director, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly
Ms. Laura Solia Shellaby, C/Can 2025 City Health Financing Lead, UICC Dr. Emmanuel Amamkwaa-Frempong, C/Can 205 Kumasi City Manager, UICC Mr. Fred Kwame Awittor, C/Can 2025 Data Capture Specialist, UICC Non-Executive Committee Member Observers: Dr. Fred Adomako-Boateng, Deputy Director of Regional Care for Ashanti, Ghana Health Service Executive Committee Members Absent: Dr. Anthony Nsiah-Asare, Director General, Ghana Health Service Dr. Oheneba Owusu Danso, Chief Executive Officer, Komfo Anoyke Teaching Hospital Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, Regional Minister, Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council Representative of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA)
Inaugural Kumasi Executive Committee Meeting, 07 February 2018
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Overview of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Melissa Rendler-Garcia, C/Can 2025 Director of Regional Operations, presented a comprehensive overview of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and C/Can 2025: City Cancer Challenge, including detailed information about the global cancer burden, UICC’s areas of focus and global agenda, the emergence of C/Can 2025 as a practical and impactful way to drive that agenda at city level. She elaborated on C/Can 2025’s model, ongoing activities in the first three Key Learning Cities – Cali, Asuncion, and Yangon – and next steps for C/Can 2025 in Kumasi. See attached presentation for details. Ms Rendler-Garcia concluded by introducing the C/Can 2025 Kumasi team and their respective responsibilities, highlighting the critical roles to be played by Dr Emanuel Frempong and Mr Fred Kwame Awittor as UICC’s staff on the ground in Kumasi. •
Ms. Melissa Rendler-Garcia, C/Can 2025 Director of Regional Operations
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Dr. Rolando Camacho, C/Can 2025 Global Special Advisor
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Dr. Jose Jeronimo, C/Can 2025 Lead Coordinator, City Needs Assessment
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Dr. Kokou “Happy” Agoudavi, C/Can 2025 Regional Director for Africa
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Dr. Emmanuel Amamkwaa-Frempong, C/Can 2025 Kumasi City Manager
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Mr. Fred Kwame Awittor, C/Can 2025 Data Capture Specialist
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Dr Wiafe also asked for further details on the role of the President of Uruguay and the opportunity to make additional connections with other cancer activities being activated by Uruguay. Ms. Rendler Garcia confirmed that President Tabaré Vázquez of Uruguay has signed on as C/ Can 2025’s first Global Ambassador and as such will be hosting a Regional Financing Forum for Latin America in April 2018. This is a model that C/Can 2025 hopes to learn from and replicate in Africa in 2019, once Kumasi has progressed through the priority setting stage, and that there will be additional opportunities to make global connections across regions and cities involved in the program.
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Prof Ansong asked for further clarification on the expected timeline for Kumasi activities, as detailed in the Executive Committee Terms of Reference, noting the ambitious schedule set for completing a comprehensive needs assessment. Ms. Rendler-Garcia confirmed that the timeline for Kumasi will be ambitious and referred further discussion to the following presentations. Hon. Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, Minister of Health of Ghana
Additional Discussion Points & Questions: •
Dr Wiafe asked for further clarification on the relationship between C/Can 2025 and UICC, with specific reference to C/Can 2025’s expected rollout as an independent NGO in 2019. Ms. Rendler-Garcia confirmed that the ambition is for C/Can 2025 to grow into an independent organization that will eventually transition outside of UICC, just as the NCD Alliance did in 2017, reaffirming that the new organization would remain tied to UICC as its founder.
Inaugural Kumasi Executive Committee Meeting, 07 February 2018
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C/Can 2025 Executive Committee Overview Dr Jose Jeronimo, C/Can 2025 Expert Advisor, provided a comprehensive overview of the newly formed C/Can 2025 Executive Committee, including committee objectives, member profile, responsibilities, composition, coordination, and next steps. An official Terms of Reference including the tentative Executive Committee list was shared with each member present for comment and signature. Dr Frempong and Mr Awittor will be following up with all Committee members in the following days to collect signed forms. The Executive Committee members assembled voiced their approval for the Terms of Reference, with one addition. The Honourable Mayor suggested that the KMA Metropolitan Coordinating Director be added to the committee as a non-political appointee to ensure continuity within KMA in future years, to which all assembled voiced their agreement.
Dr Jeronimo then provided additional details on the timeline followed to date and the Executive Committee’s next steps, including key upcoming dates for the delivery of a comprehensive needs assessment. •
Nov 2017 – Signing the MoU between the MOHS and the UICC
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February 7 – C/Can Launched in Kumasi; 1st official Executive Committee meeting (TORs signed)
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March 21-22 – 1st Technical Committee meeting to review the assessment tool and start working to assess current capacity and needs in cancer diagnosis and treatment in public and private sector. 2nd meeting with the Executive Committee
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Late May – 2nd Technical Committee meeting to discuss the finding of the assessment of current situation, report development including priority setting. Presentation of the report and priority actions to the Executive Committee
Following the verbal approval of the Executive Committee list and TOR, Dr Jeronimo explained how the Executive Committee will drive the Technical Committee, through the leadership of the four main technical areas. Dr Jeronimo shared the following Technical Committee Lead nominations, to which all approved. •
Management of Cancer Services: Dr Alberta Britwum-Nyarko
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Core Cancer Services: Dr Baffour Awuah
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Quality of Cancer Services: Dr Ernest OseiBonsu
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Community Access: Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai
Inaugural Kumasi Executive Committee Meeting, 07 February 2018
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C/Can 2025 Kumasi Technical Committee Composition Finally, Dr Jeronimo shared a detailed presentation on the composition of the Kumasi Technical Committee and led a discussion about next steps for formalizing the committee. The first step in this process following the first Executive Committee meeting will be for the four approved Technical Leads to work closely with Dr Frempong and Mr Awittor to identify the 23 Technical Committee members, who will then establish subcommittees for each of their areas of focus. See the attached presentation and Appendix for details.
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A brief discussion was had by the group on how the findings of the needs assessment might lead to procurement of new equipment for healthcare facilities in Kumasi, with Dr Jeronimo confirming that any outcomes to that effect would be preceded by a cost benefit analysis of the priorities to determine what would be the most impactful approach for Kumasi.
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Dr Awuah noted that the way the Technical Committee list was written made it seem that only doctors would be appointed, but encouraged C/Can to include on the committee and in the needs assessment the perspectives of other actors in the healthcare system, such as nurses, lab technicians, etc. Dr Jeronimo confirmed that the 23 people appointed to the Technical Committee could and should include all kinds of relevant professionals, not just physicians, and noted that the sub-committees would also include a wide variety of perspectives (200+).
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Dr Wiafe asked for further information on how the data collected through the needs assessment would be managed. Dr Jeronimo confirmed that all information would be shared equally among the Executive Committee members and that an open source platform (RedCap) was in development as part of C/Can 2025’s global systems.
The following timeline was presented by Dr Jeronimo for next steps. •
Feb 16th: Technical Group Leaders, in collaboration with C/Can team, to propose a list of the TC members and participating institutions for approval by the EC.
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Feb 21st: Executive Committee to approve the Technical Committee and list of participating institutions.
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Feb 28th: Complete the list of specialists per technical group and distribute the Assessment Tool.
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March 21-22: First Meeting of the Technical Groups.
Additional Discussion Points & Questions: •
Dr Awuah suggested that in addition to the four Technical Committee Leads, all members of the Executive Committee be included in at least one committee to ensure engagement opportunities for all. Dr Jeronimo agreed that this should be considered as part of the process over the subsequent two weeks, when Dr Frempong and Mr Awittor would be following up with the Technical Committee Leads to build out the full technical committee group of 23.
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Prof. Ansong noted that it may be difficult for representatives from KNUST to contribute to the data collection process of the needs assessment without the University’s ethical committee approval. He committed to work internally to receive an accelerated approval for a “noninvasive” study ASAP to overcome any potential obstacles.
Dr. Jose Jeronimo with the Mayor of Kumasi
Inaugural Kumasi Executive Committee Meeting, 07 February 2018
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Conclusion In closing, Ms Rendler-Garcia and Dr Jeronimo recounted the topics covered during the meeting and the key dates for next steps, thanking everyone for their active engagement in the process. Dr Awuah asked the C/Can team to clarify a few practical points for everyone’s awareness and understanding, including what UICC will provide and what the Executive Committee members are expected to provide. Ms Rendler-Garcia confirmed that UICC would support the coordination and facilitation of the Executive Committee and Technical Committee, with periodic capacity building opportunities.
However, the Executive Committee is essentially a voluntary board, with members contributing their time toward a process that will drive improvements in cancer care and treatment for the city as a whole. Further specifics related to the commitment of time on the part of Committee members will be explored as the group moves forward. As Chair of the group, the Honourable Mayor concluded the discussion by thanking everyone for their commitment to C/Can 2025 and for delivering the next steps outlined by the C/Can 2025 team.
Union for International Cancer Control 31 – 33 Avenue Giuseppe Motta 1202 Geneva, Switzerland T +41 (0)22 809 1811 F +41 (0)22 809 1810 E CCan2025@uicc.org www.uicc.org
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Appendix Kumasi Technical Committee Composition Group 1: Basic Oncology Services Leader of the group: Dr Baffour Awuah Members of the Committee
Specialities
Laboratories 1. Pathology (name:) 2. Clinical laboratory (name) 3. Haematology laboratory (name) 4. Blood Bank (name)
Histopathology , cytology, inmunohistochemestry, molecular pathology, clinical laboratory, haematology laboratory, blood bank, microbiology (doctors and technologists)
Medical imaging 5. Radiology (name) 6. Nuclear Medicine (name)
General radiology, mammography, ultrasonography, CT, MRI, SPECT, PET, (doctors, medical physicists, technologists and biomedical engineers)
Medical Oncology (adults) 7. Medical Oncology/Oncohaematology (name)
Medical oncology, oncohaematology, pharmacy, nurses, social workers, psychologyrs)
Paediatric Oncology 8. Paediatric Oncology/Oncohaematology (name)
Paediatric oncology / oncohaematology, pharmacy, nurses, social workers, psychologists, education/ teachers
Radiotherapy 9. Radiation Oncology (name),
Radiotherapy (tele and brachytherapy), medical physics, dosimetry, technologists, nurses, biomedical engineers
Surgical Care 10. Cancer surgery (name)
Specialists from surgical specialities treating cancer patients (e.g. urology, gynaecology, coloproctology, general surgery, thoracic surgery, paediatric surgery, ENT, etc), anaesthesiology, nurses.
Palliative and Supportive Care 11. Specialist in palliative and supportive care (name)
Oncology, anaesthesiology, nurses, psychology, social workers, palliative care, pharmacy
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Group 2: Management of cancer care services Group leader: Dr Alberta Britwum-Nyarko Members of the Committee
Specialists in:
12. Manager of a cancer centre/service (name)
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13. Specialist in professional education and training (name)
Budget/finance of medical care; policy to ensure access
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Use of statistics for hospital management, planning and evaluation of activities
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Professional education and training, CME programmes
14. Specialist in finance / budget 15. Specialist in hospital information/statistics (name)
Doctors, nurses, statisticians, finance, hospital administration, professional education and training to cover above mentioned topics
Group 3: Quality of cancer care Group leader: Dr Ernest Osei-Bonsu Members of the Committee
Specialists in:
16. Specialist in quality of cancer/medical care (name)
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Medical ethic (hospital and research ethic committees)
18. Medical ethic(name)
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19. Expert in cancer management guidelines and clinical protocols (name)
Cancer management guidelines and clinical protocols
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Quality assurance and quality control programmes
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Population based and hospital based cancer registry. Mortality information system. Use of available information.
17. Cancer registry (name)
20. Expert in work safety (name)
Doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, cancer registration
Group 4: Community Access Group leader: Dr Mrs Beatrice Wiafe Addai Members of the Committee
Specialists in:
21. Expert in primary health care (name)
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22. Specialist on the network of oncology services providers (name)
Medical care network. Organization of medical care services in the city. Barriers to access.
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Patients’ education for early detection. Management of treatment side efects outside the hospital
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Integration of public and private sector
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NGOs and patients support groups
23. Coordinator of patients’ survey (name)
Doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, NGO’s representatives, hospital / cancer services managers,
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