Held by the ALSC, in partnership with the Health Ministry and the World Health Organization (WHO), the conference is themed “What strategy for preventing cervical cancer and facilitating cooperation and access to healthcare in the Middle-East and Africa?
In her speech, HRH Princess Lalla Salma proposed the setting up of a Middle East and Africa regional fund for cancer prevention and treatment, and the African Oncology School.
With a view to achieving the lofty objective of setting up an international fund for cancer treatment and prevention, “I suggest that we start with the creation of a Middle East and Africa regional fund for cancer prevention and treatment,” HRH Princess Lalla Salma said.
“Given the current economic and financial crisis besetting even major donor countries, we must rely on ourselves and our own resources to meet the challenges facing our countries in this area,” Princess Lalla Salma said.
Ala Alwan, WHO/EMRO Regional Director, welcomed the continued support of HRH Princess Lalla Salma to the efforts to fight against cancer, noting that Morocco has already adopted an effective approach in this area, in recent years, likely to boost the awareness of this scourge in the Middle East and Africa.
HRH Princess Ghaida Talal recalled that the cancer, that can reach everyone without exception, is still regarded as the leading killer in the world, knowing that the disease could reach one in two people by 2020, stating that 75% of cases would be registered in developing countries.
“Thanks to the tireless efforts of the Lalla Salma Association to Fight against cancer, the treatment of this problem has become accessible to thousands of patients in Morocco,” she said.
For her part, Sylvia Bango Odimba, Gabon’s First Lady, hoped this conference will achieve great advances in the fight against cancer which, she said, is a major public health challenge and a heavy burden on the world.
She highlighted the personal commitment of Princess Lalla Salma in the fight against this scourge, stressing the need to promote awareness, education and early detection as essential tools for better prevention against cancer.
Conde Djénné Kaba, First Lady of Guinea, highlighted long-standing relations of friendship and brotherhood between Morocco and Guinea, welcoming the continuing efforts by HRH Princess Lalla Salma, not only for the fight against cancer but also for the preservation of women's health in general.
Constancia Mangue de Obiang, First Lady of Equatorial Guinea, welcomed, for her part, the excellent organization of this event designed to promote exchanges of experience and expertise in this area.
Malika Issofou Mahamadou, First Lady of Niger, chairwoman of the Nigerian society to fight against cancer, said that the fight against cancer is among the priorities of the health development of her country.
Sika Kaboré, wife of the President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso, supported the strengthening of measures to promote health through the establishment of partnerships between governments, associations and other stakeholders, calling for the need to boost the capacity of health actors, promote the training of human resources and improve the quality of health services.
Previously, foreign ministers and representatives of NGOs participating in this conference were presented to HRH Princess Lalla Salma.
In the Hall of Honour, HRH Princess Lalla Salma received their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Ghaida Talal and Dina Mired of Jordan and the First Ladies of Gabon, the Republic of Guinea, the Republic of Guinea Equatorial, the Republic of Niger, as well as the wife of the President of the National Assembly of Burkina Faso.