World Cancer Day is being observed today with the aim of spreading awareness and educating people about its detection, treatment, and prevention.
This year’s theme of the day is “Close the Care Gap,” which is a continuation of the 2022 theme and will last till 2024 with specified objectives for each year.
According to the World Health Organization, Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) was established in 1993. Based in Geneva, it is a membership-based society working towards the eradication of cancer around the world and advancing medical research. Under its direction, the first International Cancer Day was celebrated in Geneva, Switzerland in the same year. Several well-known organizations, cancer societies, and treatment centres also supported this initiative. World Cancer Day was made official at the first World Summit Against Cancer in 2000. The event took place in Paris and was attended by members of cancer organizations and prominent government leaders from around the world.
