1	AORTIC 6^th Conference On Cancer In Africa Closing Ceremony Chris Williams, MD, FRCPC Member, AORTIC Council
2	AORTIC: Inaugural Meeting Twenty-four doctors from fourteen countries: The People’s Republic of Benin, Republic of Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Nigeria Senegal, Sweden, United States of America, and Upper Volta participated at the meeting. Dr. Jan Stjernward, Chief Cancer Unit, WHO, Geneva Dr. Charles L.M. Olweny of Uganda and Dr. Papa Toure of Senegal, African HQ, Brazzaville, Congo
3	AORTIC:The Present Why Reactivate? Why should AORTIC be re-activated? More favourable conditions for success in 2000’s than in the 1980’s and 1990’s. Improved communication following the internet revolution; Improved political climate, especially, the potential role of South Africa after the demise of apartheid, and Nigeria, after the demise of military dictatorship; Increasing global cancer burden , including Africa.
4
5
6
7	Strength and Weakness Strength: Organization: Superb Conference Handbook, book of abstracts: Superb Venue: World Class Hotels: World Class Intangibles: Local population: Friendly, lack of tension; cosmopolitan; surprisingly African; Weakness: Publicity: minimal No banners “Taxi driver” factor Lack of awareness of conference among academic staff of neighboring academic center Minimal awareness of “watershed” nature of event: Silver Jubilee No public forum No rapporteur feedback Comprehensive conference report: difficult
8	Recommendation Cape Town has set a new international bench mark for AORTIC Future bidding conference sites should be expected to offer no less, in terms of: commercial organizational support; LOC (academic) input; Should AORTIC Council consider identification of 3-4 potential permanent Africa sites, including Cape Town, with comparable conference facilities, and tourist attractions?
9
10	Statistics
11	Specific recommendations from workshops Chemotherapy Focus on treatable/curable conditions Learn from experience of AIDS activists to encourage lowering drug prices Beware ‘rogue generics’ Compile essential drug list Develop standardised treatment protocols Training of Oncology nurses, clinical officers
12	Advocacy - Recommendation Make AORTIC more visible to enhance its capacity to influence policy on cancer care, attract funding for training and research Set advocacy goals for education and awareness programs towards prevention and early cancer detection Activate political support through the African Union (AU) and establish within this body a cancer specific mechanism Build linkages with health training institutions and major umbrella colleges, e.g. CPS, Medical and Nursing Schools
13	Advocacy - Recommendation 5. Network with major cancer organizations worldwide 6. Advocate the creation of AU Cancer Awareness Day 7. Promote a “Cancer Walk Day”, facilitated by prominent cancer survivors 8. Stimulate activities, such as: Anti-tobacco award winning essay competition Grants for research students for MPhil, MMed, and PhD Grants for medical and nursing students in the area of prevention and palliative care
14	Advocacy - Recommendation 9. Establish a Scientific Advisory Committee 10. Establish an African Cancer Society as an umbrella for national cancer societies 11. Develop an AORTIC Advocacy Policy
15
16	A Network for Development of Low Cost Molecular Methods for Cancer Research in Africa Myron N.V. Williams PhD. Clark Atlanta University Atlanta, Georgia, USA
17	Molecular Technologies in Cancer Screening & Diagnosis Cytological Imaging Biochemical Protein biomarkers Metabolites Genetic/genomic Mutations Gene expression
18	"Kits & expensive equipment are..." Kits & expensive equipment are not always necessary to achieve the goals of sophisticated studies principles of traditional separations, nucleic acid hybridization, and immunochemical methods underlie newer methods Scientists in resource-poor settings conserve and manage resources, often generating creative solutions to common problems. consolidate the inventiveness of African and non-African scientists who have found these original solutions
19	DNA Hybridization
20	Connections to American Education
21	Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) Myron Williams PhD. Chemistry Department, Clark Atlanta University 223 James P. Brawley Drive Atlanta, 30313 USA Myron.Williams.CAU@gmail.com http://chem.cau.edu/~mnwill
22	Recommendations For Immediate Action Create AORTIC Scientific Advisory Committee as stipulated in AORTIC Constitution Initiate implementation of recommendation on cancer advocacy from Dakar 2005 Embark on establishment of a “low tech” teaching and research laboratory within one of the existing Cancer Centres, according to a protocol to be developed with Dr. M. Williams of Atlanta, GA, USA Initiate intensive fundraising activities for $3.0 million for establishment and sustenance of the laboratory, to be fully functional by end of year 2008
23