World Cancer Day As a Platform for Advocacy, Stakeholder Mobilization and Awareness Creation: The Experience of Uganda Cancer Society

Abstract

Background: World Cancer Day (WCD) provides a platform to raise awareness. This year Uganda's commemoration was held at the Parliamentary grounds. Aim: To bring together Uganda's stakeholders through an inclusion approach to advocate for, share information and raise awareness on cancer while recognizing efforts made and appreciating challenges faced in the fight against the epidemic. Strategy: Partnership building was key. Partners involved were; Uganda Cancer Society (UCS), Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), Ministry of Health, World Health Organization, media, Uganda Corporate League, interreligious council, Kampala Capital City Authority, Parliament of Uganda, Uganda Police and UCS member organizations. Program process: A committee was set up and a concept developed adopting the tri-process approach; “Before - During - After” for implementation of activities. Outcomes: The digital campaign was launched using the signs for change and the #WeCanICanUg. There was high media coverage; 3 major national stations Urban TV, NBS TV and NTV UG, one regional station-CGTN Africa, as well as online platforms such as; WHO Africa Web site, UICC World Cancer Day impact report, the Grape Vine, Chimp reports, and more than 5 YouTube media uploads as per our monitoring and surveillance efforts on reach and impact. The lighting of the Queen's way clock tower attracted many passersby and media coverage. In addition there was awareness creation in select churches (6) and mosques (2) on 4th and 2nd February respectively. The WCD ceremony was attended by over 400 guests and officiated by the Speaker of Parliament who doubled as chief walker. The 7.3 km match past attracted involvement of the community along the way. The Speaker called upon the government through Ministry of Health to inject more money into training of more cancer specialists to work on cancer patients. She also stated the need to have cancer services moved closer than just the regional centers but to every district referral hospital for cancer screening and cancer treatment. She pledged Parliament's unconditional support to work with civil society in the cancer fight. The Minister of Health committed to the full operationalization of regional cancer centers by 2019. She applauded the role of civil society through Uganda Cancer Society on the advocacy efforts stating that they had already started yielding good results . The event ended with the corporate league football competitions which were aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles through physical exercise. Notably was the match between the Parliamentary team and the UCI team. The winner was given a trophy marked WCD 2018. What was learned: The role of civil society through umbrella bodies like UCS plays a crucial role in cancer control as seen during through planning, mobilization, partnership building and execution of WCD activities. Creativity and innovation is key in generating stakeholder and public interest in cancer control activities like WCD.