Purpose of World Cancer Day
World Cancer Day was held in 2000 at the first world summit against cancer in Paris. Every year World Cancer Day is observed by the people worldwide on 4th February. It is an awareness day not a public holiday. This event is held to increase awareness of cancer, its preventions and treatments globally. It is conducted by the International Union against Cancer. Every year, on the World Cancer Day, governments, people and non profit organizations work together to increase the awareness of cancer, its preventions , risk reduction and treatment among the general people through radio, television, online and newspaper advertisements. They also educate the people on how to fight with cancer through healthy eating, less, physical activity and by quitting smoking and alcohol.
Annually 7.6 million people die from cancer. WHO estimated that 84 million people die between 2005 and 2015. Cancer hit harder to the low and medium income countries more than high resource countries. Mostly 70% deaths occur due to cancer in low and medium income countries.
To promote and aware people from cancer The World Health Organization (WHO), which is the directing and coordinating health authority of United Nation (UN) is working with different organizations such as UICC. UICC obtains support from different organizations together with the World Health Organization, the International Atomic Energy Agency and various partners.
Union for International Cancer Control (UICC )choose annual themes for World Cancer Day. World cancer Day 2012 theme was “Together it is possible” that it is possible only if each person, government and organization play their roles individually, the world would be able to reduce premature deaths from cancers and other fatal diseases. WHO and UICC are focusing on screening and vaccinating people for the 2013 theme because the previous themes were related to prevention of cancer, and thus improving treatment and raising quality of life for cancer patients. To reduce cancer WHO and UICC are promoting the cost effective vaccinations and availability of cost effective cancer screening programs for everyone.
Different symbols such as pink ribbon is global symbol for breast cancer awareness and orange ribbon is the symbol for child cancer awareness. They are used for the unity with those who are living with cancers.
