African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer Aortic

Since 2010 aortic has focused on building capacity for Cancer advocacy, research and training in africa. At the meeting held in dakar, senegal in november 2010 the executive council developed a strategic plan for advocacy,research, and education in Cancer. During 2011 a number of initiatives were begun which included pathology infrastructure and training development, project management infrastructure and training development and a prostate Cancer demonstration project. Research priorities for africa were identified as part of the strategic planning process. The executive council endorsed actions in Cancer advocacy, Cancer care,cancer education and Cancer research which were outlined in its document "aortic dakar declaration for Cancer control in africa-2011.- and in 2012 the council met in lagos, nigeria, to determine how aortic could further influence Cancer education in africa, how to engage the next generation of medical practitioners to participate in its mission. At the 2013 aortic international conference held in durban during november, the Organization developed an 80 page manual, "Cancer plan for the African continent 2013-2017". Published by the university of ibadan, the plan detailed an extensive overview of Cancer challenges in africa and proposed strategies for decreasing incidences of specific cancers. Information gleaned from participants from every African country, as well as the united states, canada, asia and europe, contributed to the data analyzed in the document. The international psycho-oncology society Organization provided travel grants to ensure that 8 doctors from the African continent were able to participate in thie 2013 conference. The 150 page "handbook for Cancer research in africa" edited by prof. timothy rebbeck was collaboratively published by aortic and world health Organization to act as a guideline for general research principles in africa. Aortic's 10th international conference on Cancer was held in marrakech, morocco in november of 2015 during which guidelines for increased international collaborataions were developed. "challenges and opportunities;cancer in africa" was the theme of the meeting at kigali, rwanda in 2017. Major international Cancer organizations led sessions on developing strategic health communication processes and in creating Cancer education materials. Aca introduced the toolkit that assists other countries and health institutions in developing or adapting Cancer education materials for local populations.

in 2009, dr. twalib ngoma, project director, began a demonstration pilot study to downstage breast Cancer by simple educational means. The objectives of the project were to build capacity of health aides and primary health care workers to detect cancers in selected villages in tanzania; to support the initiation of basic oncology services that would increase community awareness of the signs and symptioms of common cancers in these selected villages; and to support development of referral guidelines for Cancer patients. The area for this study is mwanga district, kilimanjaro region. The project is in its third phase; planned activities in its goal outlines have been carried out and the first progress report,"downstaging Cancer in africa", was issued in august 2009. During 2010 dr. ngoma issued a 2nd and 3rd reports on outcomes to date. The project is ongoing.