Under the auspices of the UICC

AORTIC

AORTIC - African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer

AORTIC’s key objectives are to place cancer on African health care agendas; to facilitate research on cancers prevalent in Africa; to support the management of training programmes in oncology for health care workers; to address the challenges of creating National Cancer Control Programmes; and to raise public awareness of cancer in Africa.

The Executive Council Members of AORTIC are high-profile scientists and clinicians from across the globe, volunteering as knowledge workers for the plight of the cancer patient in Africa. Their main value is their ability to gather and analyse information and make decisions that will benefit the cancer patient. AORTIC works collaboratively with other cancer organisations, in Africa and abroad, via conferences and the internet to share knowledge, encourage learning, and disseminate relevant ideas and research to the cancer community.

To date, AORTIC is actively connected to the global community with a vast electronic database as well as paper and electronic newsletters sent out quarterly in English and French. AORTIC has been represented at a number of cancer-conferences around Africa and the world, and looks forward to its seventh international cancer conference, taking place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Contrary to popular belief, cancer is emerging as a major health problem in Africa, and research shows that currently at least 5% of Africans suffer from cancer. However, the incidence of this chronic disease is rapidly rising and in the next two decades it is estimated that cancer will claim more lives in Africa then HIV, tuberculosis and malaria combined. A lack of knowledge and resources will exacerbate the situation and will hinder the continent’s ability to adequately respond to the rising incidences of cancer. AORTIC seeks to fill this vacuum and will strive to ensure that cancer is permanently on the health care agendas for all African nations.

AORTIC Patron and Executive Council

AORTIC Patron
His Excellency, Mr Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of Tanzania

AORTIC Executive Council
President: Twalib Ngoma (Tanzania)
President-Elect: Serigne M Gueye (Senegal)
Immediate Past President: Paul Ndom (Cameroon)
Secretary Treasurer: Lynette Denny (South Africa)
Vice-President Central Africa: Jean-Marie Kabongo Mpolesha
(RD Congo)
Vice-President East Africa: Anne Merriman (Uganda)
Vice-President North Africa: Ahmed Elzawawy (Egypt)
Vice-President West Africa: Rose Anorlu (Nigeria)
Vice-President Southern Africa: Mike Chirenje (Zimbabwe)
Vice-President North America: Carrie Hunter (USA)
Nurse Representative: Petra Fordelmann (South Africa)