23rd January, Dr Parkin, accompanied by Prof Henry Wabinga and Ms Sarah Nambooze from Kampala Cancer Registry, visited the Gulu Cancer Registry, based in St. Mary Hospital, Lacor. The aim of the visit was to meet with the new registrar (Francis Okongo) and evaluate the quality of data. Despite the delay of funding, the registry is doing reasonably well. The registry was then benefited from one on-site training (by Sarah Nambooze) and one basic training course in Nairobi, Kenya, later during the year. The evaluation team (editors from UK, Nairobi and Kampala) received a more completed set of data in September, and, after review, it was agreed that the registry met the most of the membership criteria of AFCRN, and that provisional membership should be awarded. The Gulu Cancer Registry was admitted to membership in November.

The 3rd AFCRN Annual Review Meeting was hosted by the Abidjan Cancer Registry, Grand-Bassam, Cote d'Ivoire., from 16-18th February 2015, followed by an academic seminar “Special Workshop: Recording of Stage by cancer registries in Africa” and a presentation on the Female Cancer Studies in Africa (Dr Eva Kantelhardt, Halle University).

The Minister of Health (Ministre de la Santé et de la Lutte contre le Sida de la République de Côte d’Ivoire) Dr Raymonde GOUDOU COFFIE, accompanied by the mayor of Grand Bassam, Dr. Georges P. EZALEY, officiated at the formal Opening Ceremony. She warmly welcomed everyone present. She pointed out that the fight against cancer is a major national task and remains a priority of the Government of Côte d’Ivoire. Her government understands the crucial role of good cancer registration in this fight and she quoted several actions that her government is taking under the national cancer control plan, including cervical screening, tobacco control, HBV vaccination and HPV vaccination. An overview of the Network from Dr. Max Parkin. The report on activities of the AFCRN in 2014 is available from attachments below.