Cancer has thus become a major global problem which threatens humans everywhere. Close to 12 million people will die of cancer in the year 2030, Lalla Salma recalled, noting that the growing habit of smoking, which is the prime cause of cancer, makes the fight against this disease even harder.

    "The number of smoking-related deaths, which currently stands at 5 million a year, will jump to 10 million by the year 2020," ALSC Chairwoman stressed.

     Developing countries, including those in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, are the hardest hit, as their populations are among the biggest tobacco consumers in the world, the Princess said, adding that this situation not only has adverse effects on people's health and on development, but it also entails devastating social and family consequences, which makes cancer a public health issue.

    "This situation is calling governments and the institutions concerned to account. The question is: When are we going to tackle the problem of smoking and its harmful repercussions? Can't we see that developed countries and tobacco-producing nations have banned smoking in public places?" Lalla Salma said.

    These countries made that decision because they realized that smoking destroys the precious resources of their societies: it often deprives families of their breadwinners and nations of their sons, in the prime of life," she went on to say.

    Lalla Salma deemed it high time "we embarked on this right path with resolve and determination, knowing that our developing countries desperately need their human resources and their young ones, as they constitute our principal asset which enables us to rise to current challenges; they are our only hope for the achievement of progress and prosperity."

    Lalla Salma said cancer is not an "inescapable destiny", adding that "scientific progress is helping people overcome despair and is opening the doors of hope to fight cancer through efficient means and mechanisms, starting with prevention which helped reduce the number of cancer cases by up to 30 percent."

     For the Princess, vaccination also helps prevent a number of cancers, especially cervical cancer; while the early detection of breast cancer is just as important, as it can be cured in a third of the cases.

    At international level, she said, it is important to implement the WHO Action Plan, which seeks to assist member countries in laying down national programs designed to achieve justice on the basis of partnerships involving public authorities, civil society and the public and private sectors.

   While At regional level, this solidarity should be mirrored by a regional strategy based on practical national plans to tackle the problems of cancer and smoking, Lalla Salma underlined.

   Touching on the Lala Salma Association activities in Morocco, the Princess recalled that the Association has sought to fight cancer through various concrete actions and initiatives. “At the national level, our action has focused on four main areas: awareness-raising and prevention, assistance to patients and their families, support for specialized staff and scientific research, and help with the setting up of cancer treatment centers throughout the Kingdom,” she added.

    As regards smoking, she said, the Association has adopted a full-fledged program to fight this plague with the aim to sensitize students and children aged ten and under to the dangers of smoking, and to train teachers and the staff involved in school healthcare programs to fight this plague.

   At the regional level, the Association has sought to set up a regional alliance to fight all types of cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, the Princess said, noting that at the international level, the Association has been actively involved in supporting WHO action and in implementing international agreements and declarations against cancer.

MAP