The 22nd Arab Medical Association Against Cancer (AMAAC) conference was held in Algeria in collaboration with the Algerian Society of Training and Research in Oncology (SAFRO). This conference took place from Nov 1-4 and was distinguished by the patronage of the Algerian president, as well as the presence of the president’s advisor and three ministers. This indicated Algeria’s commitment to the health of its citizens and its efforts to combat cancer with significant political support.
During the conference’s opening, the presidential spokesman announced the allocation of a substantial budget for early cancer detection. This decision was made in response to an observed increase in cancer cases. Additionally, the formation of a national authority for this purpose was announced, and Dr Adda Bounedjar, President of SAFRO, was appointed to lead this authority.
It is undeniable that chronic diseases, with cancer being a prominent example, pose a significant threat to the development of our Arab countries. While these diseases also affect developed nations, they are better equipped to handle them due to their resources and infrastructure.
However, in Arab countries, the rapid rise in the occurrence of these diseases has not been met with sufficient support or specialized expertise to mitigate the risks to people’s health. This situation results in both human and financial losses, highlighting the urgent need for addressing these issues in the development process.
Studies have shown that raising awareness and early cancer detection cost only 10 percent of what a country loses when dealing with advanced cases. Furthermore, the rate of cancer cases is increasing, especially in Arab countries. The World Health Organization anticipates a 60 percent increase in global cancer cases over the next two decades, with low and middle-income countries expected to experience an 81 percent rise due to limited resources allocated for combating cancer.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as stated by its director Elisabete Weiderpass, emphasizes that the drop in cancer-related deaths has been more significant in wealthy countries. This is primarily because these countries have implemented preventive programs, early diagnosis, tests and advanced treatments, resulting in a 20 percent reduction in death rates between 2000 and 2015, compared to a 5 percent reduction in low-income countries.
These facts underscore the importance of the political support that Algeria has provided by initiating early cancer detection efforts under the leadership of Dr Bounedjar. Such vibrant conferences, when guided by wise leadership, have the potential to turn their discussions into real actions that benefit human health, which is the primary goal of these scientific gatherings.
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