We call on you on this 4th day of February, whoever and wherever you are, to play your part in creating a cancer-free world.
World Cancer Day is the one singular initiative under which the entire world can unite together in the fight against the global cancer epidemic.
World Cancer Day aims to prevent millions of deaths each year by raising awareness and education about cancer, and pressing governments and individuals across the world to take action against the disease.
Unlike other years this is “A 3-year campaign for impact.”- W.H.O
World Cancer Day is more than a day on the calendar. That’s why this campaign is built to inspire change and mobilise action long after the day itself.
A multi-year campaign means more exposure and engagement, more opportunities to build global awareness, and ultimately more impact.
Beginning from 2022, the focus was on “realising the problem.”
The first year of the ‘Close the Care Gap’ campaign was all about understanding and recognising the inequities in cancer care around the globe. It’s about having an open mind, challenging assumptions, and looking at the hard facts, such as inequity in cancer care. People who seek cancer care are hitting barriers at every turn; income, education, location, and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, and lifestyle, among others.
The good news is that these barriers are manmade and can be changed.
Continuing in 2023, the focus is on “Uniting our voices and taking action.”
As the campaign continues, we will join with like-minded people because we know that we are stronger when we are united. We will celebrate real-world progress in its many forms.
Our actions can take countless forms: motivating neighbours to provide transport to cancer treatment for a fellow resident or ensuring that healthy and affordable food options are offered at the local school.
We’ll mobilise our friends, family, co-workers, and communities because we know that together, we can achieve almost anything.
Looking forward to 2024, “Together, we challenge those in power.”
This campaign is all about bringing attention to a higher level. We will raise our voices to engage our leaders. Together, we will make sure our leaders know that we demand a commitment to prioritising cancer, to creating innovative strategies designed to confront inequity, and to investing our resources to achieve a just and cancer-free world. We will call on leaders to eliminate health inequities by addressing their root causes, and ensuring that everyone has access to quality health services when, where, and how they need them.
On this World Cancer Day, what will you do to close the gap in cancer care?
Do you have any question or comment? Do share with us in the comment section.