Action plan (EEC) for an information and public awareness campaign in the context of the "Europe against Cancer" programme, 1988-1989

Part of the 1987-1989 plan of action prepared by the Commission within the context of the "Europe against Cancer" programme" (actions 42 to 46), this "information and public awareness campaign" coordinated a "European week" of information on the "Europe against Cancer" programme (1 to 8 May 1988) and contributed to the 1989 "European Cancer Information Year".
To increase the awareness of the public, teachers and members of the health profession regarding the fight against cancer, to develop common basic material for the information of the public and for the training of members of the health professions and to promote exchanges of experience.
Four measures:

- Coordination, in 1988, of a "European week" of information on the "Europe against Cancer" programme, in preparation for the "European Cancer Information Year", with particular emphasis on the following aspects:
. Fight against tobacco;
. Improvement in nutrition;
. Fight against carcinogenic agents;

- Exchange of experience with teaching materials for health education on cancer for young people and on cancer awareness for the health professions and contributions to the dissemination and adaptation of such materials in 1988 and 1989 for the "European Cancer Information Year";

- Campaign to interest teachers and the health professions in the "Europe against Cancer" programme;

- Organization and coordination at Community level in 1989 of an information campaign on the "Europe against Cancer" programme, designed to develop the campaign launched in 1988 and to fit into the framework of the "European Cancer Information Year" with regard to prevention, screening and treatment aspects.
The Commission was responsible for the implementation of the action plan, in close collaboration with the competent authorities of the Member States. It reported on the results in its Communication of 8 May 1990 to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social Committee regarding the "Europe against Cancer" programme and the implementation of the 1987-1989 plan of action.

During the "European week" of information in May 1988, three European television broadcasts were produced by the Commission, and numerous activities were organized by the programme participants. The objective to inform the public and increase public awareness of the campaign against cancer was achieved despite a very limited budget, thanks above all to the non-governmental organizations, which invested substantial human and final resources in the dissemination of the European Code against cancer. Involvement of teachers and health professionals in the dissemination of the European cancer prevention commandments was intensified, thanks to the representatives of general practitioners and senior health education officials whom the Commission met twice a year in Brussels.