World Cancer Day 2024

World Cancer Day is an international day recognized on February 4 with the primary goal of reducing the number of deaths from cancer by raising cancer awareness, encouraging its prevention and promoting its detection and treatment. The day was created by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) on February 4th, 2000, at the World Summit Against Cancer for the New Millennium in Paris.

In the countries where Anera works, access to adequate healthcare is a challenge for most. Receiving life-saving cancer treatment and medicines is almost unattainable – especially in vulnerable or refugee communities. Anera’s medical donations team recognizes the struggles cancer patients face in Palestine and Lebanon and works closely with our healthcare partners to procure critical medications for the fight against cancer.

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Closing the Care Gap – World Cancer Day 2024

This year, the theme of the Day is closing the care gap. Half of the global population has no access to cancer care, despite the medical advances that make treatment more effective than ever for those who can access it.

In Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan, the financial cost of cancer treatments prohibit many from receiving life-saving care. Meanwhile, continued geo-political conflicts destabilize the resources and infrastructure available for care, often disrupting treatments in the process. In Gaza right now, where Israel has imposed a blockade on aid and fuel, the over 2,000 cancer patients are in catastrophic pain with no end in sight. Vital medicines have long run out and treatments such as chemotherapy are now unheard of. Many face a choice of whether to stay in one of the few remaining hospitals for basic clinical care, or spend their final days with their family. 

In Sandra Rasheed’s perspective piece, she describes her own difficulties finding breast cancer treatment in the West Bank, due to both violence and cost. In Palestine, the mortality rate of breast cancer is more than 50%. 

In the last year, Anera has distributed medications and resources for cancer treatment to Gaza and Lebanon. With help from International Health Partners, Anera was able to provide bortezomib medicine to the Turkish-Palestinian Friendship Hospital, the main treatment center for cancer in Gaza. Before this shipment, the hospital had gone two months without any chemotherapy pharmacy supplies. With a donation from the Catholic Medical Mission Board, Anera was able to distribute 9,100 much-needed medical safety gowns and accessories across Lebanon. And, through a generous donation from Direct Relief, Anera provided 9,200 treatments of more than five types of anticancer medications to Karantina Public Hospital in Beirut, the Tripoli Public Hospital in the North, and the Nabatieh Public Hospital in Nabatieh Governorate.

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Getting Cancer Medications and Treatment to Where They are Needed Most – World Cancer Day 2023

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World Cancer Day 2022

So far in Anera’s fiscal year for 2022, the medical donations team has received 6 shipments containing anticancer medication. These shipments would not be possible without the support and donations from Direct Relief, International Health Partners, and Hikma Pharmaceuticals. Beneficiaries of these cancer medications have been the Ministry of Health in the West Bank, Shifa Hospital in Gaza and the Health Care Society in Lebanon.

Cancer Medicines Delivered and Their Practical Usage

Lebanon:
Hydroxyurea Cureaml – can be used for cancer and sickle cell.
Cyramza (Ramucirumab) – a monoclonal antibody developed for the treatment of solid tumors.

Gaza:
Capecitabine – used to treat breast, colon or rectal cancer.
Cyclophosphamide – used to treat cancer of the ovaries, breast, blood and lymph system and nerves.

West Bank:
Nintedanib – used for chemotherapy for lung cancer.