Cancer in Africa:A rights-based public health approach

Dr. Christoph HamelmannRegional Practice Leader HIV, Health and Development

UNDP Europe and Central Asia

EPP Group Hearing ‘Cancer in Africa’Session I: The problem of health care in Africa; role of different organizations of fighting diseases in Africa

Brussels, 27 June 2012

Cancer: A Public Health Challenge in Africa

WHO Global Status Report On Non-Communicable Diseases 2010

Age-standardized incidence of all cancers (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) per 100,000

Health is a Basic Human Right

Eleanor Roosevelt with United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights

UN 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 25

UN 1966 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

• Right of everyone to the highest sustainable standard of health

• Prevention, treatment, care and support

• Signed by 160 countries, 2011

Global Commitment and Coordination

International and National Strategies

Primary Prevention

• Environmental, socio-ecomomic and behavioural risk factor reduction

• Vaccinations against infections associated with cancer

• Multi-sectoral approach

Example:

International and National Strategies

• Universal access to screening

• Universal access to early diagnostis

• Universal access to primary, secondary and tertiary service levels and referral models

Treatment, Care and SupportSecondary Prevention

Health Systems Approachaddressing:• Inequities

• Gender imbalances

We Need Solutions: Sustainable Financing

National Health Financing Systems

Global Cancer Fund ?

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Global Cancer Fund ?

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We Need Solutions: Affordable Medicines

Target 8.E:In cooperation with pharmaceutical companies, provide access to affordable essential drugs in developing countries

Target 8.F: In cooperation with the private sector, make available benefits of new technologies, especially information and communications

We Need Solutions: Quality and Efficiency

• Improved governance: Integrity in the health sector

• Improved management: Defined standards and accountable implementation, public-private mix

• Inclusive and equitable services

• Client and patient orientation

Investment in Health – Investment in Sustainable Development

Economic growth

Environmental protection

Social justice

• GDP• Employment• Human

productivity

• Risk pooling• Universal access

to health services

• Link with primary prevention • ‘Greening’ of health services

Learn from Other Global Health Initiatives

‘Nothing about us without us!’

Empowering people, involving civil society

A Rights-Based Public Health Approach

Cancer can be prevented and treatedin Africa

Thank you

christoph.hamelmann@undp.org

Contact: