Civil society crucial in fight against cancer say NGOs

World Cancer Day aims to remind everyone of the power of cooperation and civil society, the office of the commissioner for volunteerism and NGOs said on Wednesday on the occasion of the day marked annually on February 4.

“The message of World Cancer Day 2021 ‘I am and will’ is part of the three-year campaign 2019-2021 and aims to strengthen and encourage members of civil society to personally commit to action, since the actions of everyone from us affect others around us, in the neighbourhood, in the community, in our city,” the announcement said.

“This difficult year reminds us of the power of cooperation and collective action. The commitment of all is necessary to create a world free of cancer.”

The groups said that the field of volunteering has a strong and important contribution in the fight against the disease, while NGOs, with the infrastructures they have, as well as with the free services and programmes they offer, effectively support cancer patients and their families all over Cyprus.

“Undoubtedly, these would not have been possible without the full support of the government and the contribution of civil society.

“The joint effort must continue, medical research must be intensified and information must be universal, so that proper prevention and rapid diagnosis can be achieved.”

World Cancer Day is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the largest and oldest international cancer organisation.

It was born on the February 4, 2000 at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris. The Paris Charter aims to promote research, prevent cancer, improve patient services, raise awareness and mobilise the global community to make progress against cancer, and includes the adoption of World Cancer Day.