Cities driving change 14 November - Mexico City, Mexico On 14th November 2017, 350 global leaders from 60 countries gathered at the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City, Mexico. Hosted by the Ministry of Health of Mexico and UICC member organisation National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INCan), the event was opened by UICC President Prof. Sanchia Aranda and welcomed a highly distinguished programme of attendees including President Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico; President Tabaré Vázquez, President of Uruguay; Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain; H.E. Mrs Angélica Rivera de Peña, First Lady of Mexico; H.E. Ms Gabriela Michetti, Vice President of Argentina; H.E. Mrs Kim Simplis Barrow, First Lady of Belize; HRH Princess Dina Mired of Jordan, President-elect of UICC.
Also in attendance were a number of Ministers of Health, alongside prominent global health and development leaders and Mayors from numerous cities. For the first time, UICC members accounted for more than one-third of Summit participants, representing 123 members across 45 countries. Master of Ceremonies for the day was TV journalist Paola Rojas, from Televisa.
The discussions were dynamic and optimistic; focusing on how countries and cities around the world can respond to the 2017 cancer resolution, accelerating impact on cancer control and, in doing so, make important progress towards achieving the global target of a 25% reduction in premature mortality from cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 2025.
Summit participants discussed how best to move from global commitments to fully operational, comprehensive cancer solutions that reach the world’s population. Following on from the 2017 cancer resolution this provided participants with a timely forum to discuss effective implementation of cancer control nationally. The theme of the summit ‘Cities driving change’ was an opportunity to showcase inspiring examples of how cities can take the lead in delivering sustainable solutions to improve access to cancer treatment and care in their countries.
In addition to the Summit’s hosts, the Union for International Control (UICC) partnered with the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the World Health Organization (WHO), and was supported through the sponsorship of 20 key leading health organisations, all of whom contributed to a productive and successful event.