Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness week

Launch of Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week (EMCAW)
on Monday 7th July, 12.30pm - 3.00pm,
with MPs’ photocall (House of commons, Dining Room A)

Ethnic Minority Cancer Awareness Week (7th – 13th July 2008) is a new initiative from a collaboration of leading charities to raise awareness of cancer amongst ethnic minority groups.

The initiative was launched by Cancer Equality at their ‘Delivering Equality in Cancer Care-A Challenge for All’ conference in 2007. Following this a group of charities have come together to deliver a week of events to both raise cancer awareness and improve access to services amongst ethnic minorities. The work is funded by the Cancer Action Team.

This year’s event will be focused on London, as one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in the world; around 40 per cent of the population belongs to an ethnic minority and over 300 languages are spoken. In a number of areas London leads the way in the provision of services to minority communities. At the same time there are inequalities in the cancer incidence and mortality experienced by different communities compared to the general population. Furthermore, evidence suggests that barriers exist for ethnic minorities in accessing cancer information and services which may impact on cancer survival rates.

The week of activities will begin with our parliamentary reception, hosted by Sadiq Khan MP and Dr Ian Gibson MP at:

Monday 7th July, 12.30pm – 3.00pm, House of Commons (Dining room A) with refreshments.
We are delighted that Anne Keen MP, Paula Lloyd from the Cancer Action Team, Sir Trevor McDonald and Eddie Nestor will be joining us to share their experiences. We will also be joined by policy makers, service providers and community organisations to explore ways of improving cancer services for ethnic minority communities and showcase the services already provided. There will also be representatives from the collaboration of charities involved who will be able to answer your questions about a range of issues relating to ethnic minority communities and cancer.

There will be a MPs’ photocall to highlight the overarching aims of the week.
For more information please visit http://www.emcaw.co.uk