While there is much to do regarding the prevention and treatment of cancer in Africa, I imagine until there is substantial improvement in funding for cancer treatment and prevention programmes change may be slow and one has to have a long term view/ goals in mind.
Perhaps one way we as a nursing organisation can respond immediately is to make formal professional links with the African Palliative Care Association who are working across each region of the African continent to improve education, service development and provision of step 3 analgesics to improve the care of those with advanced disease.
Dr. Julia Downing is the Deputy Executive Director of this association. She is a cancer nurse by background and used to work at Hammersmith Hospital and the Centre for Cancer and Palliative Care Studies at the Institute of Cancer Research, both in London, before working for Mildmay International in Uganda regarding AIDS palliative care and currently the newly established African Palliative Care Association also based in Uganda.
Together with her colleagues and through knowledge of national and regional nursing organisations I think she would be in a good position to help us to identify practical and effective ways to offer professional support to cancer and palliative care nursing and health care initiatives in Africa. I can supply her contact details should UKONS members feel this would be at least one good place to start our UKONS response.

I agree with the above . Sue Duke Concultant Nurse in Southampton has also established links with Africa , though right now I can't remember which country. This link relates to palliative care education and provision . At the very least I think UKONS could practically help with offering educational programmes