Action Plan for Cancer Primary Prevention

The main activities to be implemented in order to prevent exposure to risk factors for cancer and decrease cancer incidence in the general population are briefly listed below:

• Recommended activities against smoking (estimated to be responsible for about 30% of cancers):

 Strengthening capacities of the health system to help anyone who wants to quit smoking. Training and provision of auxiliary materials for doctors and nurses of Primary Care Services (PCS) first and then to the staff of Hospital Service.

Identifying and counseling patients about quitting smoking should be provided for free.

 Activities in support of law enforcement to prevent passive smoking in public areas (awareness campaigns, administrative measures).

 Public campaigns to prevent smoking, particularly among increasingly high risk groups, such as women and youngsters.

 Campaigns in schools and workplaces.

 Further efforts are needed to increase tobacco excise tax within the national tax policies.

 Warnings on tobacco packages should be made more effective.

• Recommended activities against unbalanced nutrition and overweight (estimated to be responsible for about 30%-35% of cancers):

 Strengthening capacities of the health system for screening and treatment of faulty nutrition and overweight. Training and provision of auxiliary materials for doctors and nurses of PHC. Identifying and counseling patients regarding nutrition and overweight should be provided for free.

 Awareness campaigns in the general population to promote the fruits and vegetable intake (at least 5 per day) and control of daily calories. Campaigns in schools and workplaces.

 Advocacy activities with policy makers in order to introduce restrictions on the marketing of sweets, high fat foods, foods high in salt/preservatives and drinks for children.

• Recommended activities against sedentary lifestyle (estimated to be responsible for up to 5% of cancers):

 Strengthening capacities of the health system for screening and counseling on sedentary lifestyle. Training and provision of auxiliary materials for doctors and nurses of PHC. Identifying and counseling patients regarding physical activity should be provided for free.

 Awareness campaigns in the general population to promote physical activity.

Campaigns in schools and workplaces.

• Recommended activities against exaggerated alcohol consumption (estimated to be responsible for about 3% of cancers):

 Strengthening capacities of the health system for screening and counseling on alcohol abuse. Training and provision of auxiliary materials for doctors and nurses of PHC. Identifying and counseling patients regarding alcohol abuse should be provided for free.

 Activities in support of the law preventing alcohol consumption by children and youngsters (awareness campaigns, administrative measures).

 Public campaigns to prevent alcohol abuse, particularly among young people.

Campaigns in schools and workplaces.

 Further efforts are needed to increase alcohol excise tax within the national tax policies.

• Recommended activities against viruses and other biological agents (estimated to be responsible for about 5%-10% of cancers):

 Activities within and outside the national immunization program to increase hepatitis B vaccine population coverage.

 Safe sex promotional activities in the general population and in specific risk groups, including youngsters.

• Recommended activities against ionizing radiation and ultraviolet radiation (estimated to be responsible for up to 3%of cancers):

 Strengthening capacities of the health system for counseling on the risks of exposure to ultraviolet radiation and healthy practices related to sun exposure. Training and provision of auxiliary materials for doctors and nurses of PHC.

 Public information through systematic campaigns on healthy practices related to sun exposure, particularly focusing on young women.

 Raising awareness of the public and responsible authorities for construction standards on radon risks. Advocacy for appropriate construction standards related to protection from radon.

 Awareness campaigns focusing on health professionals about the proper use of diagnostic and treatment technologies that emit radiation.

 Inspection activities supporting the enforcement of law on radiation.

• Recommended activities against environmental pollution and occupational factors (estimated to be responsible for 2% and 5% of cancers, respectively):

 Review of standards, based on EU experience, regarding the monitoring of exposure and carcinogenic substances in the workplace.

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Table 7. Action Plan for Cancer Primary Prevention in Albania

Factors Activities Responsibility Financial resources

(in 000 ALL)

Smoking

Strengthening capacities of the health system to

help anyone who wants to quit smoking MoH, IPH, PHD 1 000 /year Activities in support of law enforcement to

preventing passive smoking in public areas (awareness campaigns, administrative measures)

Public campaigns to prevent smoking MoH, IPH 4 000/year

Further increase on tobacco excise tax Inter-ministerial

Committee

-Warnings on tobacco packages should be made

more effective Inter-ministerial

Committee

-Unbalanced nutrition and overweight

Strengthening capacities of the health system for screening and treatment of faulty nutrition and

overweight MoH, IPH, PHD Included in the first raw

Awareness campaigns in the general population to promote the fruits and vegetable intake (at least 5 per day) and control of daily calories

MoH, IPH 1 000 /year

Advocacy activities with policy makers in order to introduce restrictions on the marketing of sweets high fat food, foods high in salt / preservatives and drinks for children

MoH, IPH,

TUHC 500

Sedentary lifestyle

Strengthening capacities of the health system for

screening and counseling on sedentary life MoH, IPH, PHD Included Awareness campaigns in the general population to

promote physical activity MoH, IPH 500 /year

Alcohol

Strengthening capacities of the health system for

screening and counseling on alcohol abuse MoH, IPH, PHD Included Activities in support of the law preventing

alcohol consumption by children and youngsters

(awareness campaigns, administrative measures) MoH, IPH, PHD 500 /year Public campaigns to prevent alcohol abuse,

particularly in youngsters MoH, IPH 500 /year

Further efforts are needed to increase alcohol

excise tax within the national tax policies MoH, MoF

-Viruses and other biological agents

Activities within and outside the national immunization program in order to hepatitis B

vaccine population coverage MoH, IPH, PHD 1 000 /year

Safe sex promotional activities in the general population and in specific risk groups, including

youngsters MoH, IPH 1 000 /year

Strengthening capacities of the health system for

 Activities supporting inspections related to environmental pollution from hazardous gases and particles.

 Expansion of the air pollution monitoring system with adequate technology and coverage of the territory.

 Improving the monitoring system for arsenic in potable water.

4.4.