ONS Connect - February 2008 - (Page 27) wOrkiNgFOryOu ONS Has the Responsibility and Opportunity to Affect the Global Burden of Cancer [By Paula t. Rieger, RN, MSN, AOCN ®, FAAN, ONS Chief Executive Officer] I Paula T. Rieger, RN, MSN, AOCN®, FAAN n the developed world, it is a well recognized fact that as the popula tion rapidly expands and ages in the coming years, the cancer burden will increase. This issue, however, is not re stricted to the developed world alone. More than 70% of all cancer deaths oc cur in low and middleincome countries, where resources for prevention, diagno sis, and treatment of cancer are limited or nonexistent. Cancer deaths are projected to rise, with an estimated 9 million people dying from cancer in 2015 and 11.4 million dy ing in 2030. Although the statistics can The Society is fortunate to have a rich network of members who speak other languages, have a desire to make a difference in other parts of the world, and provide education and training internationally. feel overwhelming, nursing can do much to help diminish the anticipated burden of cancer. ONS has a history of international ac tivities dating back to 1979: participat ing in international conferences, part nering with international organizations, and supporting educational programs for nurses outside the United States. The Society is fortunate to have a rich network of members who speak other languages, have a desire to make a dif ference in other parts of the world, and provide education and training interna tionally. Two longstanding partners are worth noting. The International Union Against Cancer (UICC) is the leading international nongovernmental orga nization dedicated to the global con trol of cancer; it focuses on exchanging knowledge, applying scientific findings to clinical settings, eliminating dispari ties, and delivering care throughout the world. Former ONS Chief Executive Officer Pearl Moore sits on the UICC Board of Directors. ONS and the ONS Foundation provide financial support and staff assistance to the UICC Trish Greene International Cancer Nursing Training Workshops, which build skills for RNs in resourceconstrained coun tries. The International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) is a federation of cancer nursing societies whose vision is to be the voice of oncology nursing in the international arena. ISNCC seeks to advance and improve the delivery of nursing care to people affected by can cer. As the largest professional oncolo gy organization in the world, ONS has the responsibility and opportunity to partner with other international oncol ogy organizations to build capacity in the developing world, serve the inter national nursing community, and, per haps most important of all, to open a dialogue among nurses in all parts of the world so that we all may learn from each other. ✱ February 2008 ONS CONNECT 27
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