VALD selected to participate in global summit

Vision for Alternative Development (VALD) has stated that Labram M. Musah the General Secretary, will represent the organisation at the premiere of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Summit in Dublin, Ireland, from August 24 – 26, this year.

This is the first-ever event to bring together world leaders, advocates and corporations from more than 60 countries to address the global cancer burden.

The VALD is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established to promote alternative initiatives and development at all levels of society.

It has the following as its working objectives: To engage in health promotion and information/tobacco control, to support community participation in decision making and to advocate for cultural diversity, peace and development.

VALD is the leading NGO in Ghana advocating for the implementation of the Frame Work Convention on Tobacco Control to reduce cancer and heart diseases.

The Summit is the landmark event of the LIVESTRONG Global Cancer Campaign, an effort of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LAF).

Labram Musah will represent the organization's commitment to fight cancer in Ghana and engage with world media, political leaders, representatives of non-governmental organizations and corporate leadership.

Cancer is a worldwide public health problem. It accounts for 12.5% of all deaths, more than the percentage of deaths caused by HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria put together, is the second leading cause of death in developed countries, and is among the three leading causes of death for adults in developing countries.

In 2002, there were 6.7 million cancer deaths worldwide with less than 5% of these in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that by 2020, cancer could kill 10.3 million people worldwide, with a 50 to 75 percentage increase in cancer mortality in sub-Saharan Africa.

As of now Ghana has no national statistical records of cancer cases, but a research conducted by the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) revealed it.