The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) are engaged to promote cervical and breast cancer prevention and early screening through the project “Women’s Right to Health (WoRTH)”, as part of the UfM Women’s Empowerment Agenda. The project, implemented by the Centre for Cancer Prevention of Piedmont, in Italy, as WHO Collaborating Centre for Cancer Early Diagnosis and Screening (CPO/WHOCC), aims at supporting UfM Member States to develop national plans to increase access to services to prevent and manage women cancers such as cervical and breast cancer. Morocco, Albania and Montenegro have already started with national pilot projects. In the framework of the project, over 45,000 disadvantaged women (aged 25-65) are expected to be tested for cervical and breast cancer and sensitized to the risks and the importance of cervical and breast cancer prevention. More than 300 health professionals involved in the early detection/screening programs will be trained.

“Cancer affects everyone in different ways. Combining worldwide and regional efforts and mobilising networks with a view to sharing knowledge and experiences is crucial to prevent cervical and breast cancer. The UfM is determined to build synergies in the field of women’s empowerment, including access to health, in order to facilitate stakeholders dialogue and cooperation and promote specific projects such as WoRTH”, said Laurence Païs, UfM Deputy Secretary General.

The UfM joins efforts with the World Health Organisation, the CPO/WHOCC and the Ministry of Health of Morocco to promote women’s rights to early cervical and cancer screening during a regional workshop that will be held on 5 April 2018 in Marrakech under the framework of the Conference of the Pan-Arabian Research Society of Gynaecological Oncology (PARSGO). About 50 participants will represent the ministries of health of the Mediterranean countries, national, regional and international stakeholders and experts in the field of cancer prevention. The meeting will provide the opportunity to strengthen the network of cancer prevention in the region; identify specific means of stakeholders’ engagement at the local, regional and international levels; share experience and best practices, as well as assess the possibility of involving additional countries from the region in the project.

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Press Release

Union for the Mediterranean (UfM)