PACT was approached by the Syrian Atomic Energy Commission (AECS) to perform a technical visit on the preparation of a national cancer control strategy. Although PACT currently focuses on its six model demonstration sites, it agreed to this mission since it appears that time is ripe in Syria to advocate for cancer control - one of the overall aims of PACT.
The PACT team included Ms Maria Stella de Sabata, PACT Cancer Control Specialist, and Prof Hussein Khaled, Dean, NCI Cairo University, who was delegated by WHO-EMRO.
The team met with HE Dr Maher Al-Hussami, Minister of Health, and Deputy Ministers of Higher Education Dr Abdul Munir Najm and Dr Maher Kabakibi. Additionally, meetings with the National Committee for Developing Cancer Therapy in Syria and NGOs such as the Syrian Cancer Society and Syrian society for breast disease, as well as site visits to Al Bairouni hospital, Al Cham hospital, the national cancer registry andWHO country office were carried out during the mission.
Although the cancer registry reported 12 000 cancer cases in 2005, it estimates the real cancer incidence at around 18 000 cases per year. The 3 most common cancers reported by the registry are among men: lung, gastrointestinal system and genital system; among women: breast, gastrointestinal system and genital system.
With currently only one fully operational comprehensive cancer center, Al Bairouni hospital, serving the country's population of about 18 million people, and only 60 specialised physicians, Syria is in great need of addressing its cancer problem in a systematic way.
PACT congratulates the Syrian Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Higher Educationand the Atomic Energy Commission on their agreement to form a national cancer control Steering Committee, which will be responsible for drafting a national strategy and establishing priorities for an action plan.
PACT's support to Syria in its initial stage of planning for cancer control will include the identification of experts according to specific requests formulated by the country; the identification of training possibilities; expert advice on equipment and maintenance issues; the identification of specific training manuals and guidelines in requested areas; and facilitating contacts with PACT partners and other international agencies, according to specific areas of expertise required.