Aug 12
30
Diane Harper, MD
Diane Harper, M.D., joined representatives from the World Health Organization in a presentation August 29 in Montreal for the World Cancer Congress – Union for International Cancer Control, which represents the largest network dedicated to global cancer control.
Dr. Harper, Professor of Medicine in the UMKC Departments of Community and Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Biomedical and Health Informatics, spoke on the issue of global cervical cancer control with Andreas Ullrich, Medical Officer for Cancer Control at the WHO department of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion in Geneva, Switzerland.
“Cervical cancer is the greatest cancer killer of women globally,” Dr. Harper said. “Specifically, 80 percent of cervical cancer deaths are in the developing countries where the World Health Organization and the Pan American Health Organization are instrumental in documenting and sponsoring guidelines for improvement of women’s health.”
Dr. Harper’s presentation with the WHO team covered the topic of ethical and humanitarian communication about options for cervical cancer control that include screening as well as HPV vaccination options.
The four-day World Cancer Congress includes partners such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunizations, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, an NGO founded to bring reproductive technology to all women.
