Breast cancer in the developing world: Meeting the unforeseen challenge to women, health and equity
Publisher/Organizer: Harvard Global Health Equity Initiative, the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, the Harvard School of Public Health, the Harvard Medical School and the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston
Date: 3-5 November 2009
Language: English
The Symposium participants included high-level politicians, researchers, clinicians, and leaders of NGOs and other advocacy organizations from around the world.
The pre-symposium sessions centered on specific themes related to identifying knowledge gaps, setting a research agenda, and determining how to translate breast cancer guidelines into practice in developing country contexts.
The first day of the symposium set the stage for building consensus and establishing a research and advocacy agenda for addressing the growing problem of breast cancer in developing countries. Dr. Jeffrey Flier, Dean, Harvard Medical School and Dr. Julio Frenk, Dean, Harvard School of Public Health announced the establishment of an international task force led by a consortium of experts from Harvard and other organizations to begin designing a plan of action for increasing women’s access to breast cancer services in less developed settings.
The second day of the symposium focused on how to build greater momentum for breast cancer programs in developing countries, and an inclusive research agenda. The day included presentations and discussions followed by regional working group break-out sessions.
The second day of the symposium focused on how to build greater momentum for breast cancer programs in developing countries, and an inclusive research agenda. The day included presentations and discussions followed by regional working group break-out sessions.
Dr. Julio Frenk, Dean, Harvard School of Public health closed the symposium by presenting a summary of the conference outcomes and key recommendations for the way forward for the newly established Task Force. He emphasized the importance of tackling breast cancer in developing countries given its growing urgency as a priority issue for women’s health (and the well-being of their children) in these countries and worldwide.
For a full Report of the Symposium, download the PDF below.