Ministry of Health and Sports coordinates City Cancer Challenge

 

UNION MINISTER for Health and Sports, Dr. Myint Htwe, attended a presentation on C/Can2025; City Cancer Challenge Yangon City, held at Chatrium Hotel in Yangon yesterday.

The City Cancer Challenge is a collaboration between the ministry and The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

Speaking at the event, the Union Minister said there are many cancer deaths around the world, adding that there many cancer patients and cancer deaths in Myanmar as well.

He said we must work towards pain reduction for cancer patients and early prevention of cancer. Global Can has predicted the number of cancer patients around the world will increase but we must work together in all relevant sectors to prevent the predictions from coming true and to reduce cancer rates in our country.

The union minister said the key messages of the cancer reduction initiative can be found on the Ministry of Health and Sports’ website and social network pages.

We must acquire the support of the Union Government to enforce restriction on food and other items that can lead to cancer, such as prohibiting the sale of cigarettes and tobacco leaves near schools and banning sales of these items to children under 18, said the Union Minster.

He said work has began on compiling the national Cancer Registry and will allow further understanding of cancer occurrences and systematic purchase of medicine and medical equipment to combat it. He said we must analyze the present situation and make changes to the process in accord to the registry while laying down priority tasks.

Next, Dr. Rolando Camacho, Senior Special Advisor to City Cancer Challenge, delivered some remarks. He explained that UICC began the City Cancer Challenge two years ago by collaborating with the government of major cities, organizations from the private sector, philanthropic organizations, INGOs and NGOs. He said they are implementing the program in four major cities in Myanmar, including Yangon, to transform them into key learning cities and a role model to implement in the rest of the major cities around the world.

Afterwards, Prof. Dr. Ye Mya, Chairman of the Working Committee on Yangon City Cancer Challenge Program, explained Yangon’s involvement in the program. This was followed by Laura Solia Shellaby, Lead of City Health Financing LabMs of UICC, explaining the City Cancer Challenge Global Program, and Dr. Aung Naing Soe, Project Manager for Yangon City Cancer Challenge of UICC, explaining the process concerning the program.

Next, attendees asked questions to the officials and participated in discussions.

MNA

Photo: MNA

(Translated by Zaw Htet Oo)

Ref: The Global New Light of Myanmar