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The MECC Workshop on Palliative Care
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Speech of the Minister of Health Mr Andreas Gavrielides at a Social Dinner in honor of the participants at the MECC Workshop on Palliative Care,
Lordos Beach Hotel, 16th November 2005, at 08.30 p.m.
I am honored and very pleased to be here among so many distinguished Scientists and health professionals from within and far beyond our countries. At the same time, I feel very proud and privileged that Cyprus has been chosen to host this important meeting on Palliative Care, organized by the Middle East Cancer Consortium with the collaboration of the National Cancer Institute, U.S.A.
I warmly congratulate the organizers for their continuous and tireless efforts towards the materialization of this meeting. Special thanks are also reserved for the main actors of the Consortium, Dr Joe Harford and through him the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute of Health for their generous financial, scientific and technical support and Prof. Michael Silbermann, the Executive Director of the Consortium, for his inspired, consistent and dedicated support and leadership throughout all the years of MECC existence.
Last, but not least, I warmly thank, all participants from MECC countries and outside MECC, for being present here today and of course for their continuous efforts to contribute towards improving the cancer situation in their own countries in their respective field.
Dear Friends,
We all know that cancer is the second leading cause of death in most of the developed countries and a growing problem in the less developed countries. We are also aware, that the developing countries are faced with the epidemiological transition phenomenon, whereas, they have to combat cancer and other non-communicable diseases, while at the same time, they have to deal with infectious diseases prevailing in their own countries.
It is also well known that, roughly, one third of cancer cases can be prevented, one third can be cured and the remaining third can be offered a substantial support, through a well organized palliative care programme. Thus, it is of paramount importance to continuously reorganize our cancer services by collecting reliable data on cancer situation, through a well organized cancer registry, proceed towards prevention of the disease and early diagnosis and offer treatment ending up with palliative care, i.e. the special support to the end stage cancer patients and to their families.
It is within this broad field of gained knowledge and experiences, the genuine interest to improve care, cure and provided health services and the strong will to establish bonds of friendship and mutual trust among the people of their own countries, that the idea of the Middle East Cancer Consortium was captured in 1996, by a pioneer group of people from Israel, Palestine, Egypt, Jordan and Cyprus, under the encouragement and the strong support of the National Cancer Institute, U.S.A.
Since its establishment in 1998, MECC has made tremendous progress towards the achievement of its goals. Allow me to briefly refer to some of them.
MECC countries have succeeded to develop a fully functioning cancer registry, able to provide reliable data on cancer incidence and trends of cancer in each country, which allows safe comparison of the data among these Countries. As a result of this good data base which enables analysis to be made available, the first publication of MECC countries the “Cancer Monograph in MECC countries” is about to be issued. MECC is continuously investing on Cancer Registry. Despite the turbulent situation in our countries, meetings of the governing bodies - the Ministerial Committee, the Board of Governor’s and the Principal Investigators Meetings are uninteruptly taking place, every year, throughout the years. Recently MECC has expanded to other areas of cancer care. Among them, the most important is the organization of meetings, like the present one, which allow participants to meet with each other and to exchange views, knowledge and experiences on various aspects of cancer, which are of common interest in the MECC countries.
The participation of so many distinguished scientists from MECC countries and countries outside MECC and the broad spectrum of topics included in your agenda, proves your interest and guarantee for the success of your meeting.
The topic of your workshop on “Palliative Care for the Cancer Patient” reflects the great importance that needs to be attached to the care of patients with advanced disease, so as to achieve the best quality of life for the patient and for their families.
Decision makers of Cyprus Ministry of Health, consider Palliative care and cancer issues, in general, among their priorities, since Cancer in Cyprus as in so many other countries worldwide, is the 2nd cause of mortality.
At this point of time, Cyprus is at the stage of preparing a comprehensive plan of organizing in general the Oncological Services available in Cyprus. It is expected that the study will cover fully all aspects of cancer care from cancer prevention to end stage cancer patients and family care, including the topics to be covered during your discussions.
At the moment, the Anticancer Society and the Cyprus Association of Cancer Patients and Friends, financially supported by the Ministry of Health are, at a great extend responsible to provide these services to the cancer patients. They are providing a broad range of palliative care, such as hospice and home care services. These services are provided by a multidisciplinary team, specialized in palliative care, functioning in an advisory and supportive way closely cooperating with the whole range of hospital based and community based services.
Dear Participants,
I would like to conclude my address by welcoming you all here in Cyprus, and wish you happy stay and every success in your meeting on Palliative Care.
I warmly extend my congratulations to all of you for being here today, for your efforts and for your determination to work hard and to improve the cancer situation in your respective countries.
Once again, I warmly thank Dr Joe Harford and Prof. M. Silbermann, for their dedicated support and their determination to meet all the goals and objectives of the MECC.
I wish you all enjoyable evening.
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