2021 UICC Annual Report
Delivering a powerful global health and development agenda The COVID-19 pandemic continued to dominate global health discussions in Geneva, with WHO governance meetings largely being held virtually. At a Special Session of the World Health Assembly (WHA), WHO Member States officially started the process of developing a new global mechanism to support more effective pandemic preparedness and response. UICC actively participated in these discussions, working with Mission contacts to understand the key issues and opportunities to integrate cancer control into the mechanism. UICC also co-organised several virtual briefings for the Permanent Missions with the NCD Alliance and other Geneva-based advocates ahead of WHO governance events, such as the Executive Board, the WHA and Special Sessions of the WHA. In addition, in collaboration with the Swedish Cancer Society, UICC organised a virtual side event during the WHA entitled “Antimicrobial resistance (AMR): a threat to future cancer treatments and the role of healthcare personnel.” The objective of the event was to highlight the threat that AMR poses to cancer care outcomes and was well-attended by the representatives of several governments, UICC members and other civil society organisations.
To mark World Antimicrobial Awareness Week (WAAW) in November, UICC collaborated with ReAct, the Norwegian Cancer Society and the Wellcome Trust to organise a special meeting on access to treatments, including medicines and diagnostics. One of the key points discussed was the need for evidence-based treatment guidelines adapted to local settings. In addition, this group also published an article in Cancer Control stressing the importance of partnerships in addressing AMR for better cancer care outcomes.
“Addressing AMR for cancer care outcomes should be high on the global health agenda. The role of healthcare workers in addressing AMR should be strengthened, and this in turn will positively influence cancer care outcomes." Ulrika Årehed Kågström, UICC Board Member
“It is not that we are not working together but we need to work even more together. Power is in the numbers. We have different constituencies, different tools, different opportunities. The tobacco community offers legal tools, which can help the cancer community achieve its aims of moving countries in the right direction, while the cancer community is closer to clinical settings, which can help better inform us and build records on cancers caused by tobacco.” Dr Adriana Blanco Marquizo, Head of the Secretariat of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC)
UICC engaged in tobacco control advocacy throughout the year. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day on 31 May 2021, UICC strongly promoted tobacco cessation and prevention. The outreach complemented the WHO campaign “Commit to Quit" and UICC developed videos, infographics, social media banners, social media messages and other materials for UICC members, other NGOs and the public.
30
