UICC World Cancer Congress 2006

Cancer organizations to be effective have to use their resources wisely. The Saint Lucia Cancer Society operates nationally in a population of 160000 as a voluntary organization. The overall aim of the Society is to “defeat cancer”.

As part of the ongoing work over the past 25 years, tobacco related activities have featured prominently and advocacy for cancer control has been piecemeal. The attempts to influence policy makers had limited success. The impetus provided by the developing FCTC starting around 2002, brought closer interaction between the government policy makers and the Cancer Society, and opened channels hitherto closed.

The Cancer Society now co-ordinates the multisectoral government players in tobacco control: the Ministry of Health, the Bureau of Standards, Ministry of Commerce, Customs & Excise. Apart from government, TC activities have led to the forging of new and improved relations with regional NGOs such as the Cancer Societies of Barbados and Trinidad; and international NGOs such as the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and the Framework Convention Alliance.

The Cancer Society has proposed and lobbied for a tobacco taxation strategy that will contribute not just to tobacco control but also to the development and implementation of a national cancer control programme. In addition, the current high level of international media interest in tobacco-related cancers, has given us the opportunity to campaign more actively for cancer control in general.