Meeting of the AORTIC International at ASCO 2001

Venue: Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Embarcadero Centre

Date: Sunday May 13, 2001

Attendance:

• Daniel Vorobiof (South Africa/South Africa)
• N.A.O. Abinya (Kenya/Kenya)
• Enitan Bababunmi (Nigeria/USA)
• Cari Masters (USA/USA)
• Barrie Adedeji (USA/USA)
• Carrie Hunter (USA/USA)
• Abratt Ruymand (South Africa/South Africa)
• Ntokozo Ndlovu (Zimbabwe/Zimbabwe)
• Joseph Kasese (Zimbabwe/Zimbabwe)
• Jacinta Aniagolu (Nigeria/USA)
• Ahmed Elzawawy (Egypt/Egypt)
• Edem Agamah (Ghana/USA)
• Chris Williams (Nigeria/Canada)
• Biodun Elegbede (Nigeria/USA)

Sections:

• Regrets
• Reports
• Presentations

Regrets:

James Holland (USA/USA), Jimmie Holland (USA/USA), Lucille Adams-Campbell (USA/USA), Oskar Kashala (Republic of Congo/USA), S. E. Adunyah (Ghana/USA)

Chris Williams called the meeting to order at 6:30 PM. The agenda for the meeting were adopted without any modification.

Minutes of ASCO 2000 meeting were read and accepted without any modifications.

Minutes of the AACR 2001 meeting were also presented.

Matters Arising: There were no points for discussion at this stage. All discussions were deferred until later since they were already slated on the agenda.

Reports:

Chris gave background information about AORTIC and presented update on the activities of the organization including:

• Formation of the Steering Committee of AORTIC International at AACR San Francisco 2000 meeting
• Composition of the Steering Committee and reactivation of AORTIC
• Reports of ASCO 2000 meeting in New Orleans
• Reports of AACR 2001 meeting in New Orleans
• ASCO 2001 (4th meeting) in San Francisco

Chris also gave reports on the activities of the Steering Committee especially on drafting of the AORTIC constitution, which was based on International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) constitution. Incorporation of the organization has not yet materialized.

The proposed meeting of AORTIC in Africa in 2001 could not be arranged due to a number of factors. Dr. Abinya of Kenya reiterated reasons why it was not possible to host the meeting in Kenya in 2001. The reasons included inconvenience of the date since it coincided with a meeting coming up in South Africa as a result of which the South African delegation would not be able to attend; the inability to raise sufficient funds within the short time period. The interest first shown by Dr. Durosinmi Etti, which waned, to host the meeting in Nigeria was also discussed. After a lengthy discussion on the subject, the decision taken at AACR 2001 were affirmed:

• No meeting of AORTIC in Africa in the year 2001
• Meeting proposed to take place in Africa in 2002
• The committee set up at AACR 2001 to look into venue and organization of 2002 meeting in Africa. Daniel Vorobiof was the only member of the committee present at ASCO 2001. The committee was mandated to contact possible African hosts of the meeting and report back to the Steering Committee as early as possible

INCTR: Chris reported that he attended the meeting of INCTR in Brussels and presented reports on the activity of AORTIC. INCTR was interested in AORTIC since it could serve as a model for other parts of the developing world.

Suggestions were made that AORTIC should explore possible collaborations with INCTR, NCI and similar organizations for educational and research purposes. The Special Populations section of the NCI will be a good division to contact for collaboration and funding. The idea of intra-continental collaboration was also floated. With such collaboration, a day may be set apart by the established organization to discuss African issues. The possibility of sourcing grants from pharmaceutical companies was also suggested. All these suggestions were to be taken into consideration by the Daniel committee before making recommendations for the Africa 2002 meeting.

Recommendations from the Steering Committee: The following recommendations were brought by the Steering Committee:

Secretariat: There is a need for secretarial facility, which may be on part time basis for now. Chris was directed to come up with possible cost for such secretariat and estimate of funding commitment.

Finances: The issue of the poor financial state of the Organization was discussed. The need for fund raising activity was reiterated. However, it was also pointed out that the organization needs to be incorporated as a non-profit organization to facilitate its ability to source funds and be tax exempt. Mrs. Adedeji (ENHICA) agreed to work with the organization on incorporation. Donations were solicited from members and Chris is to e-mail solicitation from all members. At this point, Jacinta Aniagolu was named as Resource Development Advisor to the organization and Carrie and Barrie agreed to help. A decision needs to be taken as soon as possible on incorporation and IRS status.

Presentations:

ENHICA: Dr. Bababunmi (CEO) gave a short presentation on the mission statement, objectives and activities of Environment and Health In Communities of Africa (ENHICA International, Inc.). He brought best wishes from ENHICA and stated that his organization is willing to collaborate with AORTIC.

ICEDOC: Dr. Ahmed El-Zawawy also made a brief presentation about the International Campaign for Establishment and Development of Oncology Centers (ICEDOC). ICEDOC is a non-profit organization with headquarters in Texas. The organization also sent its best wishes to AORTIC and looks forward to a fruitful partnership with AORTIC.

Four of the Africa-based participants at the conference included from left Dr. Abratt Ruymand, Dr. Daniel Vorobioff, (both from South Africa), Dr. Nicholas Othieno-Abinyah of Kenya, and Dr. Ntokozo Ndlovu of Zimbabwe.

Dr. Aniagolu of USA/Nigeria (first on the right) Dr. Adedeji (USA) (first on the left) and Dr. Hunter (USA) (second on the left) form the new Resource Development Committee.

Dr. Nicholas Othieno-Abinyah of Kenya addresses the meeting.

Listening to a presentation left to right are: Dr. 'Biodun Elegbede (USA/Nigeria), Cari Masters (USA/Jamaica), Barrie Adedeji (USA), Dr. Carrie Hunter (USA), Dr. Edem Agamah (USA/Ghana), Dr. Ahmed El-Zawawy (Egypt), Dr. Othieno-Abinyah (Kenya), Dr. Joseph Kasese (Zimbabwe), Dr. Ndlovu (Zimbabwe), Dr. Jacintah Aniagolu (USA/Nigeria).

Dr. Enitan Bababunmi, CEO of ENHICA makes a presentation on his organisation.

Dr. Bababunmi, CEO of ENHICA and Dr. Ahmed El-Zawawy, President of ICEDOC exchange business cards at the meeting. Also in the picture is Dr. Edem Agamah of USA/Ghana.