Angry in the Great White North

The AORTIC Conference is about dealing with cancer in African by Africans, using the best in modern medical techniques:

Currently, we are busy preparing an exciting agenda for the conference, which will focus on the unique burden and opportunities for cancer control in Africa. The conference will feature an in-depth scientific programme with local, African and internationally renowned keynote speakers. The agenda will also include symposia led by experts and interactive workshops that will provide meaningful ideas for your professional practices. Major areas of foci will include haematological cancers; cancer in HIV+ patients; cancers of the cervix, breast, prostate and oesophagus; and hepatocellular carcinomas. In addition, the conference will focus on the development of National Cancer Control Programmes and will address the issue of palliative care in Africa.

Part of the focus will be on international exchange, integrating African cancer care with medical structures around the globe.

The government is active in rethinking cancer funding in Canada:

A new federally funded independent nationwide cancer agency aims to save the lives of more than 400,000 Canadians over the next 30 years.

The newly established Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) will be meeting with Federal Health Minister Tony Clement on Monday for the first time. The goal of the organization is to co-ordinate a national strategy to reduce cancer rates and improve the quality of life of those living with cancer. CPAC is a not-for profit organization that will operate at arm's length from the government.

"This is the first time that Canadians are putting together a national cancer strategy and we're doing it from the ground up. This is not just some government agency deciding things and telling everyone how it's going to work," Clement told CTV's Canada AM.

With $260 million promised from Ottawa over the next five years, CPAC will aim to address issues such as research, surveillance, prevention and best practices with relation to the subject of cancer in the country's health care system.

I bet there are opportunities to help Canadian researchers and professional publications attend and present at AORTIC. The point is to think beyond the traditional forms of aid we send to Africa: money (much of wasted or stolen) and direct immediate aid (needed at times, but ultimately a form of aid with little long term positive effect).

Instead, we look for example in which Africa organizations, like AORTIC, are doing things in a way that would benefit us as well as them. Money spent is focused and spent accountably, and both Canada and Africa benefit in the short term and the long term.