The Samoa Cancer Society and United Nations have agreed to work together in the fight against cancer. 

According to the United Nations (U.N.) Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative, Simona Marinescu, one way to show support is to advocate together. 

“Beyond that this is an organization that is supposed to ensure access to services for people to ensure opportunities for people to still lead a decent life regardless of their sufferings."

“We would like to work together with the Samoa Cancer Society and address together the challenges these people are facing maybe we could work more on better services for them and ensuring stronger support in the community in their families."

“In follow-up of this event we will sit together with all the U.N. agencies and understand where the gabs are and try to work together responding to those gabs and especially to the emerging needs of people suffering,” she said.

Simona said the partnership will not just collaborate on cancer but other diseases in general.

“Since we primarily work with national counterparts we would like to make a call to acting institutions in this country to reach out to us for partnerships. Among the many objectives we have strengthening civil societies, it is because we think that civil society gives voice to the people and it is better engaged and looks deeper in the problems of the community level.”

The united showing yesterday at the new premises of the United Nations is an extension of the United Nation’s capacity to bring other non-government organisation partners on board. 

“So for us it is the extension of our capacity to bring non-governmental organizations to partner with us and through partnerships we hope it be more better effective,” she said. 

Samoa Cancer Society's Chief Executive, Shelley Burich, said their collaboration with the United Nations will open doors to further discussions on how their partnership can lead to more awareness building on cancer in Samoa.