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The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has a long history of supporting successful cancer diagnosis and treatment programmes in the developing world using radiation medicine through its Department of Technical Cooperation (TC) and Division of Human Health (NAHU). Building on this experience, IAEA/PACT and its partners are developing multidisciplinary cancer capacity building projects called PACT Model Demonstration Sites (PMDS) in all WHO regions. In the Western Pacific, the PMDS is Vietnam, where WHO's Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO) plays the leading role as a PACT Partner.
Over the course of five years, IAEA/PACT, WHO and other partners will assist the national authorities in the design, funding, implementation and evaluation of PMDS projects focusing on country specific priorities. They will provide technical expertise and support government efforts in resource mobilization for the implementation of the national cancer control programme, with emphasis on improving cancer registration, educating and training personnel, introducing prevention and early detection programmes, expanding or improving treatment facilities and services, including radiotherapy, establishing palliative care, and supporting cancer societies and NGOs. For information on general focus of PMDS click here ».
Vietnam has a population of 84 million people and an estimated 75 000 new cases of cancer per year (Globocan 2002). There are 10 radiotherapy facilities in Vietnam, but it aspires to establish treatment centres in all major cities at an estimated cost of $140 million. The Vietnam Atomic Energy Commission (VAEC) has confirmed the national goal of having one radiotherapy machine per million people in the next decade. Further programme development in cancer prevention, registration, early detection, palliative care, and a cancer society are all needed.
Organize, coordinate and report on imPACT review mission; coordinate preparation of imPACT report and PACT Model Demonstration Site (PMDS) project proposals and work plans; coordinate interagency collaboration and resource mobilization and deployment during PMDS project execution.
With support from WHO-WPRO, Vietnam initiated its cancer control planning several years ago. The National Cancer Control Programme was approved by the Government of Vietnam in July 2007 and has been operating since January 2008. Report on October 2006 imPACT mission, including recommendations, submitted to Minister of Health of Vietnam. Government has established a national cancer steering committee. The Ministry of Health and other key national stakeholders and PACT Partner organizations will form working groups to plan and carry out activities in their fields of competence. A mission to assess opportunities for fundraising was carried out in May 2009 [Read the story]. Bhabhatron II Cobalt-60 unit, donated by the Government of India through PACT, installed in third quarter of 2009, and a lauching ceremony will take place at the Can Tho Oncology Hospital in October 2009.
Following the signing of the WHO/IAEA Joint Programme on Cancer Control, IAEA/PACT and its partners, together with Vietnamese counterparts, will coordinate the formulation of interagency work plans on strengthening all areas of cancer control, each agency according to its mandate and areas of competence. PACT, in coordination with IAEA internal stakeholders, will support national counterparts in implementing work plans and developing proposals for funding.
Improved cancer survival rate; effective implementation of national cancer control programme; organized screening; earlier detection of common cancers with improved opportunity for and delivery of curative treatment; increased treatment of cancer patients; improved cancer registration; improved public awareness of and knowledge about cancer early detection and its prevention; reinvigorated cancer society.
PACT works with WHO Headquarters, WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WPRO), IARC (WHO), American Cancer Society (USA), International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the Tata Memorial Centre (India). PACT hopes to involve the Open Society Institute (OSI), US National Cancer Institute (NCI), Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH) (USA) and others, especially the private sector.
For more information on Vietnam, please contact Mr Dan Malin.
