World Cancer Day 2022: Close the Care Gap!

Overview

World Cancer Day is a leading international awareness day observed every 4 February. It was initiated by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) aims to raise worldwide awareness, improving education and catalysing personal, collective and government action.

Theme 2022

The theme for World Cancer Day 2022 is ‘Close the care Gap’. Close the Care Gap is all about raising awareness of this equity gap that affects almost everyone, in high as well as low and middle-income countries, and is costing lives.

Did you know?

• Cancer is a critical health and human issue.
• 10 million people each year die from cancer.
• Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Together, we will change that.
• 70% of cancer deaths occur in low to-middle income countries.
• Less than 30% of low-income countries have cancer treatment services available (compared to 90% in high-income countries).
• Cancer kills nearly 10 million people a year and some 70% of those are aged 65 or older, yet older populations face disproportionate barriers to effective treatment.
• Over one third of cancers are preventable, which means we can all reduce our cancer risk. 
• A shortage of skilled healthcare workers is one of the greatest barriers in delivering quality cancer care.
• The financial impact on nations, individuals and families have a huge impact on sustainable economic and human development.

2022: Realising the problem

The first year of the “Close the Care Gap’‘ campaign is 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: 

• Inequity in cancer care costs lives. 
• People who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn. 
• Income, education, location and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are just a few of the factors that can negatively affect care. 
• The gap affects everyone, including you and your loved ones. 
• These barriers are not set in stone. They can be changed.  

This is the year to question the status quo and help reduce stigma; to listen to the perspectives of the people living with cancer and their communities and let those lived experiences guide our thoughts and actions. 

#CloseTheCareGap #WorldCancerDay

Source of info: Official website of World Cancer Day.

Recommended readings

• October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2021
• International Childhood Cancer Day 2021
• World Cancer Day 2021: I Am And I Will
• Global strategy to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer as a public health problem
• October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month
• Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Program Implementation Guideline 2077
• World Health Assembly adopts global strategy to accelerate cervical cancer elimination
• Fact Sheet of Population-Based Cancer Registry and Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Nepal
• World Cancer Day 2020: ”I Am and I Will” #WorldCancerDay
• Accelerate efforts to eliminate cervical cancer: WHO
• Create a future without cancer. The time to act is now. #IAmAndIWill
• Nine ways to reduce Cancer risk
• Guideline to Implement livelihood allowance for Cancer, Kidney & paralyzed patients from spinal injuries
• World Cancer Day 2018 #WeCanICan
• Govt launches cancer registry across nation
• World Cancer Day 2016 – – We can. I can. #WorldCancerDay#WeCanICan
• World Cancer Day: February 4th- ”Not beyond us”
• Prevention and Control of Cervical Cancer (New WHO guide)
• Accelerate action to prevent and control non-communicable diseases: WHO
• The Global Week for Action on NCDs 2021 #ActOnNCDs