Françoise Meunier, Vice President at Académie royale de Médecine de Belgique and Founder of the European Initiative on Ending Discrimination Against Cancer Survivors, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“On Friday, I had the honour of speaking at the Rotary Fusion 2025 Summit in Brussels to call for stronger protection of cancer survivors. This issue goes to the heart of Rotary’s values: equity, inclusion, dignity, and service to humanity.
In my talk, I highlighted the contrast, and the opportunity, between Europe and Africa:
In Europe, several cancer types now have 5-year survival rates exceeding 90%, thanks to new medicines, scientific advances, and cutting-edge care. Yet survivorship is not the end of the struggles, survivors continue to face unmet needs, including physical, medical, psychological, and societal challenges, particularly financial discrimination.
In Africa, the most recent 5-year survival estimate is 52.9%. While challenges remain, such as limited access to medicines, technology, and high-quality care – there is also enormous potential. Expanding access to diagnosis and treatment, strengthening health systems, and scaling up international collaboration are already opening doors. Organisations like AORTIC– Africa play a vital role in driving progress and adapting global best practices to local realities.
What’s next: The solutions already exist, we do not need to reinvent the wheel. But specific problems require specific, context-driven solutions. Rotary is uniquely positioned to bridge continents, foster dialogue, share best practices, and amplify the voices of patient advocates. Together, we can build a future where no cancer patient or survivor is left behind.
Special thanks to Rotary International for placing this critical issue on the agenda, and for their continued commitment to fairness, dignity, and service to humanity.
Picture Copyright: Rotary Magazin für Deutschland und Österreich.”
Read more posts featuring Françoise Meunier on OncoDaily.
