Angry in the Great White North

The letter was received by the Canadian Journal of Urology, addressed to the publisher of the journal, George Georgieff:

30 April 2007

Dear Mr Georgieff

RE: AORTIC 2007 CONFERENCE

On behalf of the Executive Council of the African Organisation for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC) and the Conference Organising Committee, I would like to extend an invitation to representatives of CJU to attend AORTIC’s 6th International Cancer conference. The conference is titled “Cancer in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities” and will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 24th to 28th of October 2007. Speakers and other VIPs include a veritable “Who’s Who” of cancer professionals from around the world.

AORTIC is committed to making cancer control a priority in the health care agenda of Africans. In support of this effort we are organising the 2007 conference to focus on all aspects of cancer care and management from prevention and diagnoses to treatment and palliation. Our previous conference held in 2005 in Dakar, Senegal, attracted over 400 delegates from across Africa, Europe and North America. For the upcoming conference we are carefully developing a scientific program that will promote and facilitate an international exchange of research and practical information among practitioners working in cancer care.

We would be most appreciative if CJU could publish a supplement in the forthcoming special edition of your journal highlighting this very important event in Africa. Dr Twalib Ngoma and Profesor Serigne Gueye, both AORTIC council members, are supportive of CJU’s role in this regard.

Our conference website is www.aortic2007.org and online registration is available.

We do hope members of the CJU will be able to attend our conference and we look forward to your collaboration.

Sincerely

LYNETTE DENNY (PROFESSOR)
SECRETARY/TREASURER: AORTIC

When Health Canada allocates spending on cancer research, prostate cancer is one of those that probably gets in line behind other manifestations of the disease. It is the most common cancer in Canadian men, and therefore one of the most common cancers in men worldwide. Interestingly, men of African descent are particularly prone to this sort of cancer, which is probably why AORTIC would be very interested in enlisting the help of the Canadian Journal of Urology in taking what is presented at the conference back to Canada, both to inform Canadian doctors of the latest in research in this sort of cancer, and to make them aware of the work AORTIC is doing to prepare the way to the next conference.

I don't know if the CJU can send a representative to the AORTIC conference this fall, or if it has the budget to issue a supplement dedicated to the AORTIC conference. That would be a shame. A modest amount of help from Health Canada on this is exactly the sort of small effort that could have long term results, both here in Canada and in Africa.