In Presidential Proclamation 09-06, the president said that cancer has become the number one cause of death in the Republic of Palau, and its incidence among Palauans is steadily increasing.
Toribiong said that the community should work together to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality, “it is necessary to conduct a large scale public education campaign regarding cancer prevention, particularly encouraging screening and early detection programs, designed to catch cancer at its earliest stage when it is treatable.”He added that the community must also “create, enhance and promote Survivorship/Palliative care programs, designed to reduce the social, economic, emotional and spiritual burden of cancer care to families affected.”The president said that increase in cancer cases in Palau may be directly linked to the changing lifestyles and diets of the people of Palau, including the change from a simple diet of local fish, fruit and vegetables to a more complex diet of imported, processed food.The president stated the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products, and consumption of alcoholic beverages also contribute to the higher incidence of cancer among our people. In line with this the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the Ministry of Health and the Cancer Coalition (O.M.U.B.) have formed a partnership to raise awareness on the social, economic and emotional impact of cancer to families and the Republic.He also stressed it is necessary to implement comprehensive cancer prevention and control services within Palau to focus on all aspects of cancer care.
