The EU has marked World Cancer Day with a pledge to address “disparities and inequalities between member states”
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has said that 100 million cancer screening tests weren’t carried out due to the impact of the Covid pandemic on health services, delaying diagnoses and referrals for treatment across the continent.
“This means that an estimated one million cases could right now be undiagnosed in Europe,” the European Commission chief claimed.
Von der Leyen has announced the EU will launch a cancer inequality registry to address differing death rates across the bloc, as part of action to reduce the growing impact of the disease.
“It will identify trends, disparities and inequalities between member states and regions so that we can better target our support,” von der Leyen declared, as officials predict cancer fatalities could rise up to a third by 2040.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified cancer as one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in the European region, accounting for more than 20% of all deaths. In 2020, 2.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer across the EU, while 1.3 million died from the disease.
Speaking ahead of World Cancer Day, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Kluge claimed cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment “suffered in an unprecedented way as health services have struggled to respond to COVID-19.”
Citing official data across the European region from the past two years, Kluge highlighted how the diagnosis of invasive tumors fell by 44% in Belgium, colorectal screenings declined by 46% in Italy, and cancer diagnoses were 34% lower than expected in Spain.
To mark World Cancer Day, the WHO has committed to implementing cost-effective and evidence-based policies that will allow them to fast track the elimination of cancer as a life-threatening illness in Europe and Asia.
PARIS, Feb 03 (IPS) – The Rastafari movement, which began in Jamaica during the 1930s, has become internationally known for its contribution to culture and the arts, as well as for its focus on peace and “ital” living. Major icons include reggae musicians Bob Marley, Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer and Burning Spear, with the movement overall projecting a very male image.
Abuja, Nigeria, Feb 03 (IPS) – Seidu Ishaiku lives in the hope that his children will succeed. He and his family live with about 300 other residents in the Alheri leprosy colony outside Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Abuja.Read the full story, “End Leprosy Discrimination Now, For the Sake of Our Childrenâ€, on globalissues.org →find more fun & mates at SoShow now !
The White House says Russia is planning a false flag operation to justify a further invasion of Ukraine. The State Department suggested Russia may be making a video of a fake attack to pin on Ukraine.
After Austria’s parliament approves the measure, it only expects the president’s signature
On Thursday, Austria’s compulsory vaccination bill has cleared its last parliamentary hurdle on its way to becoming a law. The parliament’s upper house – the Federal Council – has voted 47 to 12 in favor of the legislation. The right-wing Freedom Party was virtually the only one opposing the initiative.
The bill is now expected to be signed by the Austrian president, Alexander Van der Bellen, and finally come into force in the next few days; possibly as early as on Saturday, according to the Austrian media. The legislation passed by the Lower House on January 20, was initially expected to come into force on February 1.
It would require every Austrian adult – except pregnant women or those exempt for medical reasons – to get vaccinated against Covid-19. Those refusing to do so might face financial penalties, with maximum fines amounting to €3,600 ($4,000).
However, little will change for Austrians until mid-March since all the citizens would be first informed about the measure through letters sent by the authorities. The Austrian law enforcement will be demanding vaccination certificates during routine checks starting from March 16.
If a person fails to present a valid certificate, the police will report them to the authorities. Four such administrative proceedings per calendar year may result in a fine, according to the Austrian OE24 newspaper.
The bill also envisages the so-called “third phase” that can be ordered by the health minister depending on the pandemic situation. As part of this phase, all Austrians that would not be vaccinated at a certain date and would have no valid exemption reasons would automatically be slapped with fines at least twice a year.
The bill would also empower authorities to keep a database of every citizen’s vaccination status and the expiry date of said status, which can be searched by officials. The legislation is to remain in place until 2024.
Vienna first proposed compulsory vaccination back in November 2021, when Austria had a vaccination rate below Europe’s average. Since then, the situation has changed and over 75% of Austrians received at least one vaccine dose, according to the government statistics.
Over 68% of Austrians are deemed to be fully vaccinated and have an active vaccination certificate, the government reports. Almost 4.5 million out of 8.9-million-strong population have also received a booster shot.
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