This Sunday is World Cancer Day, an annual event that aims to reduce the global burden of cancer by fostering awareness and support for prevention efforts large and small. It also marks the third and final year of the “We can. I can.” World Cancer Day campaign. For the past three years, the creators of World Cancer Day, along with participants around the world, have shone a light on individual and collective efforts that contribute to the global fight against cancer.
At HVO, we bring together individuals who are passionate about cancer care in an effort to strengthen the collective cancer care workforce. Each volunteer and trainee in our oncology program helps spread knowledge and awareness of how to prevent and treat cancer, and provides needed support to individuals living with cancer in the countries where we work.
Our sponsor organizations—the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, the Society of Surgical Oncology and the Oncology Nursing Society—are essential to the success of our oncology program. These organizations connect us to volunteers and provide the resources necessary to take on large scale projects, such as the creation of a cancer registry in Bhutan.
Of course, the creation of the Bhutan cancer registry also would not have been possible without the support and expert input of numerous local partners, including Bhutan’s Ministry of Health, the University of Medical Sciences Bhutan, and the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital—one of our highly-valued collaborating institutions.
Another of our collaborating institutions, Hospital San Felipe in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, was the site of an HVO-ASCO Palliative Conference held in July 2016. With the aid of Hospital San Felipe and ASCO, HVO was able to connect volunteers to Honduran providers eager to develop their palliative care skills in order to improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
Through actions large and small, the numerous individuals and institutions that comprise HVO’s oncology program have demonstrated the impact that is possible when people and organizations join together in the fight against cancer. Whether you are a dedicated member of the cancer care workforce, or a passionate layperson, you have the power to transform lives and reduce the global burden of cancer.
Consider volunteering or donating to support our mission to improve access to cancer care and other essential health services for patients around the globe. You can also help spread the word by sharing HVO with your networks on Facebook, LinkedIN, Twitter and Instagram.
Not a cancer care professional? Check out our opportunities for health care providers from other specialty areas! Or use the HVO Project Finder to identify the project that is right for you.