Impact of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer on Improving Cancer Care on the Continent: 15-Year History

Abstract

Background and context: African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) seeks to become the continent's preeminent nonprofit organization working for cancer control. Established in 1982, and gaining exponential momentum since 2003. Milestones achieved include placing cancer control on the continent's health agenda. Main activities have been to foster collaboration for research and training, advocacy, palliative and psychosocial care, survivor groups, educative meetings for local and international cancer care professionals. Strategy/Tactics: To demonstrate impact of AORTIC on the continent over the past one and a half decades as a successful nonprofit organization aimed at reducing impact of cancer in Africa. Position our organization to lead the continent with home grown innovation to sensitize the cancer workforce to needs of our patients and countries by developing strategies that impact on improving cancer care across the continuum, research priorities and capabilities, professional development, including advocacy, survivorship, acting as a consultative mouth piece and authority on cancer control needs of Africa. Program/Policy process: 11 successful international biennial cancer conferences in Africa, with a steady increase in attendance from 300 to +900 delegates, 12 to 95 sessions, +3000 abstracts presented over 15 years. Last meeting labeled as; “This meeting is high-value; at the level of the best oncology meetings as ASCO and ESMO”. Regional training in pathology, oncology, psycho-oncology, palliative care, advocacy, prevention and early diagnosis. Regional meetings: Senegal, Tanzania, Nigeria, Angola, Mozambique and Cape Verde. Special interest groups: radiation, pathology, nursing, pediatrics and advocacy promoting professional and research development activities. African cancer leadership mentoring academies for young investigators - +40 participants to date. Grants for qualifying members to participate in external training workshops. 39 newsletters - translated into French and Portuguese. Memberships - span across the African continent, Europe, North America and Australia and organizations - 500 individual and close to 20 organizational members. Hosted Africa regional meetings at UICC WCC since 2014. Active on social media - +1300 followers. Publications: Cancer Plan for the African Continent 2013-2017 Handbook for Cancer Research in Africa Cancer Advocacy Training Toolkit for Africa AORTIC Cancer Network Directory, plus an online map Journal articles and position papers - 12 Declarations - 2 Projects - cancer registry mapping Grants - Beginning investigator catalytic grants (BIG Cat), partner NCI (USA) +20 beneficiaries. What was learned: Through coordinated and concerted efforts, relevant stakeholders who can influence and improve cancer care on the continent through collaboration, research and training, AORTIC is a continental networking hub spanning the African continent of more than 13,000 contacts and is a major instrument of change in effective control of cancer in Africa.