Transcript Document
Setting the Stage for Cancer Advocacy in Africa: What, Why & How? Folakemi T. Odedina, PhD Professor, College of Pharmacy Director, UFPDC Community Outreach & Minority Affairs University of Florida 1 Financial Disclosure • NONE 2 Acknowledgement • Funding Support provided by: • University of Florida • College of Pharmacy • Shands Cancer Center • Office of the Vice President of Research 3 Learning Objectives • Understand the principles of cancer advocacy. • Understand the different types of advocacy. 4 Background Reading 5 WHAT? • Advocacy Defined –work on someone's behalf –“ advocate” for rights –Serve as support structure 6 WHY? • Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are now the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Africa. – 20% of the deaths from NCDs in Africans over 45 years is predicted to be from cancer. • “C” is now a major public health problem in Africa – It continues to be underestimated and ignored resulting in unnecessary deaths and suffering. – remains a low priority in African countries. • Strong need for cancer advocacy to fight cancer in Africa. 7 "In Africa, literally every day, hundreds, possibly thousands of people die needlessly in pain from cancer for want of pain relief that could cost literally pennies rather than pounds. The basic infrastructure and resources to cope with the new health epidemic is basically not there and we have to do something about it. We know that there is a steam train that is coming down the track and we have a choice we can wither, build some new track or we can wait for the train to hit us." Former British health minister Alan Milburn’s statements while chairing the conference on the geography of cancer in Africa (2007). 8 How? Reference: Cancer information and support network. Advocacy http://www.cisncancer.org/advocacy/types_of_advocacy.html 9 Education Advocacy • Provide cancer and health-related information and education to patients, family, & lay public using diverse media: – face-to-face – Health fairs – Electronically, including social media, emails, websites – Churches, mosques, social events, family reunions 10 Community Outreach Advocacy • Tailored bi-directional dialogue with a targeted community to: – Assess and meet their needs. – Should be community centered and community-centric. 11 Support Advocacy • Provide support to newly diagnosed cancer patients, survivors, families and caregivers. • • • • Physical e.g. transportation. Emotional e.g. support group. Healthy lifestyle e.g. nutritional. Financial e.g. assistance, advice 12 Political Advocacy • Lobbying to impact public policy at local, state and national level, e.g. • Free cancer screening coverage. • Increased funding for cancer research. 13 Research Advocacy • Ensuring research is tailored to the priorities of cancer patients. – Note that this is different from advocating for research funding (political / fundraising). – Examples • Serving on IRB for human subjects protection, and grant review panels. • Being part of a research team to develop grant proposals and protocol. • Assisting with participants recruitment and retention for research. 14 Fundraising Advocacy • Raising money to support all the other types of advocacy. • • • • • Bake Sales Auctions Walk-a-thon Relay for life Celebrity dates 15 Moving Forward • • • • Just Do IT! Start Small and Keep it Simple. Don’t compete; Collaborate. REMEMBER ... • There is strength in number. • It is not about you; it is about • CONQUERING CANCER! 16 Cancer Awareness Months • January • • April • • • Colorectal Cancer AM • • • Melanoma/Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention AM World No Tobacco Day (31) • • Prostate Cancer AM Childhood Cancer AM Leukemia & Lymphoma AM Ovarian Cancer AM October • • Men’s Health Month National Cancer Survivor Day (5th) September • • • Minority Health Month Minority Cancer Awareness Week (3rd wk) May June • • Cervical Health AM March • • • Breast Cancer AM November • • Lung Cancer AM Stomach Cancer AM 17 Advocacy is Power! Together, we can strike a mighty blow against Cancer! 18 Reference Cancer information and support network. Advocacy http://www.cisncancer.org/advocacy/types_of_advocacy.html 19