CANCER CARE NEWS WATCH MAY 22, 2008

By: Dr. Eucharia Iwuanyanwu, President, ACCI.

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its optional protocol entered into force 3 May 2008. It was ratified by 25 countries. Its entry into force was celebrated on May 12, 2008, at the United Nation head Quarters in New York. Africa Cancer Care Inc (ACCI) was present to witness this historic event. It is the first legally binding international instrument on disability. This is a major milestone in the effort to promote, protect and ensure the full enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms of persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their dignity.

Present at this event were the Secretary of States of the United Nation; Prince Ra ad Bin Zeid of Jordan; Ambassador Claude Heller of Mexico; Jomo Kwame Sundaram, Assistant Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs; Kyung-wha Kang, Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Lex Grandia, Chairman of International Disability Alliance CRPD Forum, to brief the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. According to Lex Grandia, “10% of the world’s population is living with some form of disability”. Eighty percent of the 10% are from 3rd World Nations, to include Nigeria and Africa. The number is growing due to various factors including population growth, ageing and medical advances.

The most common disabilities are associated with chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer; injuries at home, work and on the roads; violence; AIDS; malnutrition; and other causes often related to poverty. Stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities remains common in all societies. Women with disabilities often experience double discrimination - as women and as persons with disabilities. H.E. Ambassador Professor Ogwu’s advice to the past President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo resulted in her signing the convention on behalf of Nigeria on March 30, 2007. It is great to be present at its final ratification.

Following the convention, Africa Cancer Care Inc, its affiliate Africa Cancer Prevention Group, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc and the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria met with the new Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Nation. During the brief meeting between the leadership of Africa Cancer Care Inc, led by Dr. Eucharia Iwuanyanwu and Dr. Thelma Hurd, the representative of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Lovell Jones and the President of Equal Rights for Persons with Disability International, Inc, Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria in the Diaspora, Chief Eric Ndubueze Ufom, Mrs. Beatrice Ifeoma Oni-Orisan, PRO and the new Ambassador of Nigeria to the United Nations, H.E. Ambassador Prof. Joy Ogwu, she promised to do everything in her power to ensure that the efforts of the First Lady, Nigeria, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Africa Cancer Care Inc are not lost. The ambassador said she is glad to find out that the First Lady’s visit to MD Anderson will bring blessings to Nigerians.

The collaboration between the Nigerian Government and MD Anderson Cancer Center will transcend several years with a plan to establish a cancer center of International standard, modeled after the number one cancer center in the world along with capacity building geared towards development of manpower that will manage cancer in Nigeria. Other aspects of the proposed program that was of interest to Ambassador Ogwu, is the issue of public education which is at the core of Africa Cancer Care’s Mission. The President of ACCI, Dr. Eucharia Iwuanyanwu and her network promised to continue with their current practice of taking cancer medical missions to Nigeria. In addressing those present, she said that they do recognize the fact that it will be difficult to get to the entire population of Nigeria from 2 visits per year. It is pertinent that we set up a permanent site in Nigeria from which to operate and continue the train-of-trainer program which we started to implement during our most recent mission to Enugu State.

Our efforts to raise cancer awareness in Africa, promote preventive practices, stimulate government involvement, and serve as advocate for those disabled by cancer earned us the recognition of organizations fighting for rights of persons with disabilities in our society. African Cancer Care, Inc was invited by Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc and Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria, in the Diaspora, to become part of Rehabilitation International (RI) and International Disability Alliance (IDA). Rehabilitation International (RI) is a global network of 1,000 organizations of persons with disabilities, service providers, agencies, professionals and experts in a broad range of disability-related issues. RI and its members were actively involved in the negotiations toward the Convention and continue to promote universal ratification and implementation of the CRPD. In this regard, RI, African Cancer Care, Inc, Equal Rights for Persons with Disabilities International, Inc and Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities of Nigeria in the Diaspora are well-placed to offer assistance to the Government of Nigeria and other African Nations in developing effective laws, policies and programs to realize the goals of the Convention and Cancer Care. These organizations along with other World leaders in the field of Disabilities will like to see that projects by African Cancer Care, Inc in Nigeria and other developing nations remain long lasting and very successful.

In providing durable projects, like the one with MD Anderson Cancer Center, the vision of our First Lady, Her Excellency Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua becomes successful and remains in the Nigerian and African Society for Generations to come. We do not want her program to be like the programs set up by Nigeria’s past First Ladies, which went dead as soon as they are out of office. ACCI will work with the First Lady of Nigeria who is the present, president of Wives of African Presidents, to advise these First ladies to join hands with Hajiya Turai Yar’Adua’s Cancer Projects and towards their Nations ratification and implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We also know that H.E. Ambassador Professor Joy Ogwu will use her good office to properly advice the current administration on the issue of ratifying & implementing the convention Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its optional protocol.

For more information, please contact: African Cancer Care, Inc via

Website: http://africacancercareinc.org,

Address: 6011 Telephone Road, Houston, Texas 77087

Email: info@africacancercareinc.org

Phone: 832-818-2602, fax: 713-436-0055.

Sitting to the right is Her Excellency, Prof. Joy Ogwu, Ambassador of Nigeria to UN. to her left is Dr. Thelma Hurd, Sr. Standing behind right to left is Sir Chris Iwuanywu, Vice President ACCI, next is Dr. Thelma Hurd, Vice Chair Board of Director ACCI, Dr. Eucharia Iwuanyanwu, President ACCI, followed by Chief Eric N. Ufom, President and Mrs. Beatrice Ifeoma Oni-Orisan, PRO, ERPDI Inc

Left to right, Prof. Joy Ogwu, Ambassador of Nigeria to UN, Dr. Eucharia Iwuanyanwu, President and Founder ACCI and Dr. Thelma Hurd, Breast Surgeon and Vice Chair Board of Director ACCI.