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Minutes of the Meeting of April 3, 2000Place: San Francisco Hilton Hotel, Rooms Union Square 3&4Present:
* = country of origin (if known)/present country of residence. Sections:
Welcome:Dr. Chris Williams, the convenor of the meeting, welcomed the participants. He also thanked the sponsors of the meeting, AstraZeneca of Canada. AORTIC: A historical perspective:Dr. Williams described how AORTIC came to be. He emphasised the bilingual and the multinational nature of the organisation. He directed the attention of the participants at the meeting to a three-paged document that had been distributed among the participants. The document provided more details of the founding of AORTIC and its activities as well as achievements up to its last meeting in Africa in November 1989. He lamented the various events that had contributed to the inactivity of the organisation since then. He expressed the view that a number of events that had occurred in the interim could give AORTIC a greater chance of survival this time around. These include the emergence of South Africa from apartheid, the demise of military dictatorship in Nigeria, and the global revolution in communication through the electronic media in form of the facilities of the Internet. He then called the attention of the participants to other items on the agenda. He observed that it would be impossible for the various items of the agenda (including organisational reform of AORTIC, communication, funding, meetings etc) to be discussed in the little time left. He drew their attention to a 30-item questionnaire which had been distributed earlier, and urged every participant to complete them. He expressed the opinion that appropriate analysis of the questionnaire could reveal the impute of each participant as to how AORTIC could contribute to the solution of the problem of cancer research and management in Africa. While inviting Dr. James F. Holland, AORTIC’s Scientific Adviser, to share his vision of the future of AORTIC with the audience, Dr. Williams complemented Dr. Holland for his role in the initiation of the organisation. He also commended him for his role in form of assistance that he had rendered the organisation, including several trips to Africa to attend the organisation’s meetings. AORTIC: A vision of the future.Dr. Holland informed the participants about the incumbent leadership of AORTIC, include Dr. Charles Gombe, the President, who, he said, had continued to express a strong interest in AORTIC in spite of various impediments that had interfered with his ability to keep the organisation afloat. He then observed that communication is the main problem for cancer research in Africa, and suggested that computerisation might provide a solution. He offered to give a copy of his book, Cancer Medicine, to each individual present at the meeting if he or she returns the distributed AORTIC questionnaire within two weeks of the meeting. He revealed that a substantial amount of money was left in an account in Brazzaville. He promised to do all he could to facilitate raising of funds for AORTIC. General Discussion:Dr. Oscar Kashala led the session of general discussion. In explaining the remainder of the agenda, he outlined his views about the challenge before the participants in articulating their opinion as to how AORTIC should proceed in addressing the problems of cancer research and management in Africa.
Communication:The group agreed that AORTIC should have:
Dr. Williams would want to explore the possibility of involving Dr. Lunberg, who manages an E-mail discussion group for the International Psycho-Oncology Society. Alternatively, other opportunities of creating such a discussion group would be explored as soon as possible.
Other ways of improving communication explored at the meeting included:
Distribution of computers to African centres was felt to be of less priority as compared to availability of functional telephone lines. However, the group agreed to defer that provision of computer units to needy cancer workers in Africa to a future date. AORTIC International:The group recognised the challenge of running a multinational organisation in a continent with enormous communication difficulties. It was agreed that AORTIC International (comprising Africans cancer workers based outside Africa) is created with a view to supporting AORTIC (Africa). The latter would comprise African cancer workers based in Africa. The group selected the following to an AORTIC International Steering Committee, which was mandated to advise the group at future meetings on the affairs of AORTIC International:
The Steering Committee was asked to look into the possibility of organising a meeting of AORTIC in Africa as soon as possible (possibly in year 2001). It should decide on the date and place of the conference. The meeting should be such that it would have educational values both Africa-based participants as well as those based outside Africa. The first meeting of the Steering Committee would take place on the completion of the group meeting. Next meetings:The next meeting of the group would take place at the next meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO 2000) taking place in New Orleans May 20-23, 2000. It was also suggested that future meetings could be held with the American Society of Haematology (ASH), and with other societies of cancer-related disciplines such as those of surgery etc.
Chris Williams, MD, FRCPC |
 
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