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The need to build on recent progressAn initial needs assessment involved
about 200 local stakeholders, including
health professionals and patients.10 0
The development of the initiative then
involved multi-stakeholder co-ordination,
with forming of technical and executive
committees (including public- and private-
sector health agencies, government
authorities, academia and civil society),^101
which defined an action plan with 40
objectives, focusing on aspects such as
access to diagnosis and treatment, quality
in processes and services, and cancer in the
political agenda.^102The outcomes of the initiative so far have
been highlighted by Cali’s health department
in 2019. Key lessons include “the importance
of strengthening governance, the creation
of capacity and promoting multi-sector
collaboration”.^103 One achievement is the
strengthening of oncological services
in the leading public hospital, Hospital
Universitario del Valle, through investment
in equipment for diagnosis. This has been
coupled with training oncology nurses at
Universidad del Valle, the leading public
university. There has also been action in
developing hospital-level registries.^104 Theinitiative has also fostered collaborations
with international institutions, such as the
American Society for Clinical Pathology, the
American Society of Clinical Oncology and
the International Atomic Energy Agency
for support and training regarding quality
control in laboratories, guidelines for quality
in cancer care and the development of
radiotherapy services, respectively.^105With a total span of three years, the
initiative is reaching completion, and after
the stages of needs assessment, planning
and implementation, the focus is now on
developing mechanisms for its sustainability.
One important achievement has been the
development of an intersectoral roundtable
in the Valle del Cauca department, which is
expected to provide stability to the cancer
agenda regardless of government changes.
For Ms Frech, “beyond the important actions
in technical assistance for access and quality,
it has been crucial to highlight the need for
long long-term political commitment and
financial investment”.In Latin America, the City Cancer Challenge
also operates in Asunción (Paraguay) and in
Porto Alegre (Brazil),^106 with León in Mexico
a new participant.^10710 0 C/Can, “Cali marks one year of progress with visit from UICC President HRH Princess Dina Mired”, 2018.
(^101) C/Can, “Delivering on-the-ground impact: Cali partners with the American Society for Clinical Pathology to strengthen the city’s laboratory network”,
2018.
(^102) El País, “¿Cómo combatir el cáncer en Cali?, habla Nelson Sinisterra, secretario de Salud”, 2019.
(^103) El País, “¿Cómo combatir el cáncer en Cali?, habla Nelson Sinisterra, secretario de Salud”, 2019.
(^104) El País, “¿Cómo combatir el cáncer en Cali?, habla Nelson Sinisterra, secretario de Salud”, 2019.
(^105) C/Can, Activity Report: City Cancer Challenge, 2018.
(^106) C/Can, Our cities, 2018.
(^107) Gobierno del Estado de Guanajuato, SSG se suma a la estrategia C / Can 2025: Desafío de ciudades contra el cáncer, 2019.