A summit organized by the United Nations for discussing the need of awareness and resources for making the cancer control a global health priority in developing nations, has seen widespread participation of health-care experts, scientists and Government officials.

The two-day forum ended in Vienna yesterday. Various national cancer societies, cancer control organizations and international bodies participated in the forum and discussed the impact of cancer epidemic on health policies of developing nations.  

According to the International Atomic Energy Agency press release, some of the experts have given the view of including the cancer control agenda in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Addressing the forum, Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General appealed for collective action for fighting the cancer epidemic.

He said, “The IAEA is a small player with modest resources and cannot act alone. But we do want to put our special expertise to work as effectively as possible, in cooperation with our partners”.

Cancer is the largest single killer, killing more people than total killed by tuberculosis, HIV, and malaria every year. Maximum efforts for preventing and curing cancer are being used by developed countries, though developing countries which are already having limited financial resources are facing cancer problems.

By 2030, around 30 million people will be killed by cancer alone out of which 9 million cases will be only from the developing countries.

The 2010 Scientific Forum was jointly held with 54th General Conference of the IAEA. The agency has provided $220 million worth of cancer assistance to developing countries since 1980.