EU Commissioner for Health, Stella Kyriakides, will be receiving the honorary award of the Association of European Cancer Leagues (ECL), following a decision at the 44th Annual Conference of the ECL held on Thursday in Rome.
ECL is a non-profit, pan-European umbrella organisation for national and regional cancer leagues. The organisation’s honorary award is given to personalities that have contributed to efforts to limit the spread cancer, and whose actions are an inspiration, according to a press release.
“Your work to improve cancer prevention and treatment in Europe has been instrumental,” the organisation said in a statement.
In a message to the ECL conference, Kyriakides said that the ECL “are doing excellent work, connecting national cancer organisations by strengthening and empowering their voices”, adding that her upcoming award is an extraordinary honour.
“This is a mission that could not be closer to my heart, as my own personal experience has always been a big part of my journey. It has also defined my political journey – being the voice of patients,” she said.
Referring to the efforts during her five years in office through the European Cancer Plan, Kyriakides said that “day by day, we worked to change cancer realities for patients and their families across the EU, ensuring equal access to screening programmes, treatment and quality of life”.
“I am confident that we have achieved a lot, but we still have a long way to go. Together, we must keep the fight against cancer at the top of the European political agenda for every patient, every family, every carer,” she stressed.