US-Africa Leaders Summit : Chantal Biya, Peers Discuss Cancer Care

Cameroon’s First Lady, Mrs. Chantal Biya will today, December 14, 2022 in Washington D.C., take part in discussion on cancer. The event, dubbed: US-Africa Leaders Summit Spousal Programme, will be an opportune moment for Mrs. Biya to brief her peers on ongoing efforts to contain cancer in Cameroon and how they can close ranks to end the scourge.
The platform will also be an occasion for Cameroon's First Lady to meet the First Lady of the U.S, Dr Jill Biden, whose advocacy for cancer education and prevention began in 1993, when four of her friends were diagnosed with breast cancer. After the incident, she launched the Biden Breast Health Initiative to educate Delaware high school girls on the importance of cancer prevention. 
As the First Lady of the US, she continues militating for early detection efforts, improving care for patients, as well as supporting family and caregiver experience with cancer. Dr. Jill Biden also focuses on the importance of cancer screening; especially those delayed or put off due to the Covid-19 pandemic. She has also encouraged government partners, the business community, and non-profit sectors to help make screenings more accessible and available to all. 
Meanwhile, Cameroon’s First Lady Cancer advocacy dates back over two decades through her organisation: “The Chantal Biya Foundation” and the PanAfrican NGO, African Synergy Against HIV and Suffering. The Hematology and Oncology Unit of the Mother and Child Centre of the Chantal Biya Foundation has a well-established platform to care for pediatric cancer patients.  Before the year 2000, there was no specialised childhood cancer service in Cameroon.  Through the Chantal Biya Foundation, enormous progress has been made on pediatric oncology care in Cameroon. 
Thanks to Mrs Chantal Biya, low awareness on childhood cancer was addressed with education activities targeting the general population and health care professionals.  Cancer diagnosis was achieved with cy...