FORUM: "United by Unique" World Cancer Day 2026. The day will highlight the importance of person-centred cancer care. Every experience with cancer is unique and it will take all of us, united, to create a world where we look beyond the disease and see the person before the patient. The UICC’s Campaign recognizes that every experience with cancer is unique, and every individual has unique needs, perspectives, and stories. The organization underscored that individuals affected by cancer are united in a shared ambition to see governments implement policies to improve cancer prevention and deliver health systems that treat patients with cancer effectively and successfully—resulting in greater survival rates and longer lives after cancer. Follow the conversation with the hashtags: #cancercare, #CancerResearch, #cancer, #4February, #WorldCancerDay, #UnitedbyUnique.
EVENTS: Join the WHO/PAHO on Wednesday, February 4th at 10:00 a.m. (Washington DC, or EST) to participate to the World Cancer Day 2026 event entitled "Supporting the elimination of cervical cancer". This event will bring together experts and representatives from key organizations to address the challenges and opportunities in the fight against cancer, sharing progress, experiences, and establishing commitments to improve access to medicines in the region. Organized in commemoration of World Cancer Day, this webinar highlights the initiative to accelerate the elimination of cervical cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean. The event emphasizes the specific goals of the elimination initiative: achieving 90% HPV vaccination coverage, 70% screening with a high-performance test, and 90% treatment coverage for precancerous lesions and invasive cancer by 2030. This webinar aims to strengthen the fight against cancer in the region by promoting effective collaboration and joint actions to reach ambitious targets in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer.
Objectives
- Present the role and vision of AECID and Unitaid for the elimination of cervical cancer globally and regionally.
- Launch of the Cervical Cancer Dashboard.
- Launch of a tool for cervical cancer planning in the region.
- Regional Revolving Funds present available products to eliminate cervical cancer.
Agenda
Moderator: Mauricio Maza, Regional Advisor, Cancer Prevention and Control, PAHO
10:00 a.m. Opening remarksJarbas Barbosa, Director, PAHO
Anselm Hennis, Director, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
10:10 a.m. AECID vision to support cervical cancer eliminationOriana Ramírez Rubio, Head of Health Area, Directorate of Sectoral, European and Multilateral Cooperation, AECID
10:25 a.m. Screening Experience in Antigua and Barbuda and Its Vision to Eliminate Cervical CancerSmiljka de Lussigny, Programme Manager, Diagnostics and cervical cancer, Unitaid
10:40 a.m. Launch of Cervical Cancer Dashboard Mauricio Maza, Regional Advisor, Cancer Prevention and Control, PAHO
10:55 a.m. Planning tool for HPV screening and treatmentSara Benitez Majano, PAHO
11:10 a.m. PAHO Regional Revolving Funds and their role in cervical cancer eliminationSantiago Cornejo, Director, Regional Revolving Funds, PAHO
11:25 a.m. Closing RemarksSilvana Luciani, Unit Chief, Noncommunicable Diseases, PAHO
Time in other cities7:00 a.m. – Los Angeles, Vancouver.
9:00 a.m. - Belmopan, Guatemala City, Managua, Mexico City, San Salvador, San José (CR), Tegucigalpa.
10:00 a.m. - Bogotá, Havana, Kingston, Lima, Port-au-Prince, Nassau, Ottawa, Panama City, Quito, Washington D.C.
11:00 a.m. – Bridgetown, Caracas, Georgetown, La Paz, Port of Spain, San Juan, Santo Domingo, Saint George´s, Saint John´s (Antigua).
12:00 p.m. - Asunción, Buenos Aires, Brasilia, Montevideo, Paramaribo, Santiago.
4:00 p.m. – Geneva, Madrid.
How to participate: For other cities, please refer to the local time at this link.
LANGUAGES: Spanish and English, with simultaneous interpretation. REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE!
On February 12th, 2026, from 06:00 pm CET and 12:00 pm EST. The MDPI will host a webinar to mark the World Cancer Day 2026. In 2026, MDPI is honored to support World Cancer Day through a monthly awareness ries beginning in February. Each session will focus on a key cancer awareness theme, showcasing cutting-edge research and expert insights through specially curated landing pages and a dedicated webinar series. Through this special activity, we aim to sustain engagement and cross-disciplinary collaboration throughout the year. Explore the list of events. The Keynote Speakers are Dr. Xiang Xue, University of New Mexico, USA; Dr. Federico Pio Fabrizio, Kore University of Enna, Italy; Dr. Anis Ahmad, University of Miami, USA; Dr. Hiroaki Kiyokawa, Northwestern University, USA. Register for this webinar for free here!
CAMPAIGN: Behind every diagnosis lies a unique human story - stories of grief, pain, healing, resilience, love and more. That’s why a people-centred approach to cancer care that fully integrates each individual’s unique needs, with compassion and empathy, leads to the best health outcomes. The "United by Unique" campaign will begin its journey by inviting individuals from all walks of life to share their personal cancer stories. Much like people-centred care aims to see the individual behind the disease, the campaign intends to showcase real stories with unique perspectives. Whether it’s someone living with cancer, a family member, a caregiver, a medical professional, an advocate, or an ally, every person’s experience with cancer, the diverse challenges each faces, and how people-centred care could respond to their unique situation. By bringing these stories together into one place, the campaign aims to build a rich collection of voices that serves as a striking illustration of what is meant by “United by Unique”: every person is one of a kind, but no one is alone in the aim to take meaningful and lasting action against cancer. This year is all about recognizing and validating each unique experience, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose among those affected by cancer; Let's come together to rewrite the future of cancer care - one where the needs of people and communities come first. Join the campaign!
Relevant Special Issues
Cancers
"Cancer Immunotherapy as Part of Precision Clinical Medicine" Guest Editors: Prof. Dr. Peter Lang and Dr. Christo Kole
"Improving the Quality of Life in Patients with Gynecological Cancer" Guest Editor: Dr. Vasilios Pergialiotis
Current Oncology
"Health Disparities and Outcomes in Cancer Survivors" Guest Editor: Dr. Claire Jungyoun Han.
"Advances in Implementation Science and Knowledge Mobilization for Cancer Control" Guest Editor: Dr. Sarah Neil-Sztramko
Onco
"Liquid Biopsy and Peripheral Immune Status in Cancer Therapy Response".
Statement of the the WHO Africa Director-General Dr. Mohamed Janabi on World Cancer Day 2026,
Cancer is no longer a silent crisis in Africa. It is a growing public health emergency that demands urgent, equitable and sustained action.
On World Cancer Day today, the World Health Organization joins governments, partners and communities across the continent to reaffirm a clear commitment: cancer can be prevented, detected earlier and treated more effectively – and every life saved matters.
In the WHO African Region, cancer is becoming one of the leading causes of premature death. Each year, more than 1 million new cases are diagnosed, and nearly 1 million people lose their lives to the disease. Behind these numbers are mothers, fathers, children and young people whose lives are cut short not because solutions do not exist, but because access to those solutions remains unequal.
Cancer is not only a health issue. It is also a development challenge. It strains families, weakens health systems and undermines economic progress. The burden falls disproportionately on those with the least access to early detection, timely treatment and financial protection.
The past year has demonstrated what is possible when cancer control becomes a national priority. Countries across the Region have expanded HPV vaccination, strengthened cervical cancer screening services, improved access to childhood cancer care, and begun integrating palliative care into routine health services. These are important foundations for long-term survival gains.
Yet, major gaps persist. Delayed diagnosis remains common. Service interruptions disrupt continuity of care. Specialized health workers are in short supply. Access to radiotherapy, pathology and essential cancer medicines remains extremely limited in many settings. For too many families, the cost of care is catastrophic.
Too often, a woman is screened but never treated.
Too often, a child is diagnosed too late.
Too often, families must choose between seeking care and meeting basic needs.
This is not acceptable.
WHO will continue to support African countries through evidence-based global and regional initiatives, including the Global Strategy to Eliminate Cervical Cancer, the Global Breast Cancer Initiative, the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, and Women’s Integrated Cancer Services.
But these initiatives will only succeed if they are fully embedded in national health systems, sustainably financed, and translated into concrete services at the primary health care level.
We must invest in what works: HPV vaccination; high-performance screening tests; decentralized treatment of precancerous lesions; strengthened surgical, radiotherapy and pathology capacity; reliable access to essential cancer medicines; and the integration of palliative care from the time of diagnosis.
We must measure progress not by strategies written, but by girls vaccinated, cancers detected early, patients treated timeously, financial hardship reduced, and lives saved.
On this World Cancer Day, I call for decisive action at every level:
Governments must make cancer control a development priority, integrating prevention, early detection, treatment and palliative care into national budgets, universal health coverage reforms and primary health care systems.
Partners and donors must invest in high-impact, integrated and sustainable programmes.
Health workers must continue to lead with skill and compassion, bringing services closer to communities and strengthening trust in care.
People living with cancer and survivors must remain central to national responses, not only as beneficiaries of care, but as advocates and partners in change.
Africa can change the trajectory of cancer. But this will require sustained political will, stronger domestic investment, resilient health systems and an unwavering commitment to equity and accountability.
Let us move from commitments to measurable results, from strategies to services, and ensure that no one in Africa is left behind in the fight against cancer.
Together, we can secure a future where every person has access to prevention, early diagnosis, quality treatment and dignified care.
OTHER STATEMENTS: Read the statement of the World Health Organization South-East Asia Region - WHO SEARO Director on World Cancer Day 2026, February 4th; The Statement of Dr Tedros; WHO Director General on World Cancer Day 2026 and the statement of the PAHO Director-General on World Cancer Day 2026; February 4th.
