Washington, DC, October 17, 2023 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) today launched the first edition of the Latin American and Caribbean Code Against Cancer. The new Code, part of the Global Code Against Cancer, aims to help reduce the burden of cancer in the region by providing recommendations based on the most recent scientific evidence.
The Code was launched across the region during a virtual event organized by PAHO and IARC. It will also be presented to global health and cancer leaders in a plenary session at the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) World Cancer Leaders Summit in Long Beach, California.
The development of this Code represents a collaborative effort between PAHO and IARC, working with a large group of scientific experts from the region, to review the evidence and make recommendations on how best to prevent cancer. The Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM), the Association of Ibero-American Cancer Leagues (ALICC), the Healthy Caribbean Coalition and amigo_h are civil society organizations that collaborate with major agencies to the distribution of the code in the region.
“The Code is particularly relevant to primary health care providers, who are the first point of contact with the health system,” noted PAHO Director Dr. Barbosa. “We hope that through this Code we can collectively influence positive changes in health policies and behaviors as part of our cancer prevention efforts. »
The Code describes actions and interventions proven to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, including policies to prevent smoking and reduce alcohol consumption; limit exposure to carcinogens, such as air pollution; prevent and/or treat cancer-related infections; and promote medical interventions and screening. The Code also includes recommendations for policymakers and governments on creating enabling environments that support the adoption and implementation of the directions outlined in the Code. The recommendations are aligned with WHO’s cost-effective interventions for noncommunicable diseases, known as “Best Buys,” as well as cancer prevention strategies promoted by PAHO.
“Nearly 1.4 million new cases of cancer occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020, and more than 700,000 people died from cancer in the region that year,” said Dr. Carolina Espina, IARC scientist and project manager. will increase by almost two thirds, to 2.3 million cases, and by more than three quarters, to 1.25 million deaths, per year by 2040. The Latin American and Caribbean Code against Cancer, which was developed to target the needs of this region, is a powerful evidence-based cancer prevention tool to help individuals and policy makers address, and perhaps reverse, these trends.
The Code’s recommendations were developed by more than 60 experts from Latin America and the Caribbean, adapted to the epidemiological, socio-economic and cultural context of the region, with advice from IARC and PAHO. The Code will be complemented by a user-friendly and comprehensive competency-based e-learning program for primary health care professionals, which will soon be available free of charge on the PAHO Public Health Virtual Campus.
The Code includes a series of 17 recommendations particularly adapted to the socio-economic and cultural context of Latin America and the Caribbean.
A global code against cancer
The Latin America and Caribbean Code Against Cancer, 1st edition, is the first regional code published under the IARC Global Code Against Cancer, developed on the model of the European Code Against Cancer, 4th edition. It is available in Spanish, EnglishAnd Portuguese on the dedicated websites published by IARC and PAHO. The scientific journal Cancer Epidemiology has published a special issue including 8 peer-reviewed publications to mark this launch.
“The Global Cancer Code Framework is a landmark IARC-led initiative that provides a standard strategy and methodology for developing regional cancer codes to promote cancer prevention globally,” said the Director of IARC, Dr Elisabete Weiderpass. “The Framework guided the experts involved in the development of the Latin America and Caribbean Cancer Code to effectively assess and review the latest evidence, using local data where available; shape the most appropriate communication methods to provide authoritative, clear and up-to-date recommendations on cancer prevention; and set priorities based on the needs of the region.
“The global launch of the Latin American Code Against Cancer is probably the most important cancer control activity that has taken place in the region in recent years. This prevention tool is essential in trying to reduce the relentless increase in cancer cases in almost all of our countries and provides a clear and powerful message to our healthy populations and their families, cancer patients and survivors. It is also a guide for policymakers and health systems on how to increase and make preventive actions more effective. (Dr. Eduardo Cazap, President of SLACOM).
“The main objectives of this project are to disseminate reliable information on the prevention of cancer, a critical public health problem, to as wide an audience as possible. These goals align with our mission, which includes a commitment to supporting actions related to early detection of disease and advancing research in this area. We are deeply honored to be part of this project alongside such esteemed entities. This initiative responds to a cause that concerns us all. (Ida Sztamfater, president of amigo_h).
