Empowering Women & Youth: Upcoming Events & Initiatives

Dear OAC community,

As we move into a season full of exciting events and impactful projects, we’re eager?to share our current activities and a special opportunity for you to contribute to the important work we're doing. From crucial surveys to international conferences, OAC Old Account is leading efforts to promote holistic health in the prevention of cancer and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

We are very happy and grateful to have you here with us on this journey.

1.?OAC at the Global Health Literacy Summit – Focus on Women's Role in Cancer Prevention

From September 18-20, OAC participated in the Global Health Literacy Summit in Rotterdam. The?Summit, which takes place regularly, is a?coming together of researchers, experts, stakeholder groups?and policymakers with an?interest in, and focus on, improving health literacy. This means?empowering individuals to take charge of their own health, leading to better health outcomes and more efficient use of healthcare resources on a global level. Petra Thaller, Founder and President of OAC, took part in the panel session titled “Promoting Cancer Literacy: Improving Health Literacy for All During Cancer Journeys and Care Pathways” on Thursday, September 19.

The discussion, moderated by Kristine S?rensen ?? from the Global Health Literacy Academy - advancing health literacy by design , featured contributions from Stefanie Harsch-Oria , Chair of the African Health Literacy Network; Janet Papadakos , Associate Director of the Cancer Health Literacy Research Centre at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre ;? Nadia Valentina Pellanda Jandl , Director EUCAN Oncology Policy, Patient & Stakeholder Engagement at MSD and Petra Thaller from Outdoor Against Cancer. Following brief overviews from each of the panelists, the session focused on opportunities to improve health literacy across the cancer care pathway at both national and international levels.

In her presentation, Petra explored how women can be empowered to take proactive steps in cancer prevention, promote early detection, and lead healthier lives through holistic approached - true to her motto, "Rebel to be well!". The discussion between the panel and audience also addressed ways to enhance health literacy among the wider public by gathering existing studies, repositories, and resources to make them more accessible for everyone working in this field.

"Health literacy should begin early, ideally in early childhood education. As part of our current EU4Health project Rock Your Health (RYHEALTH), we are developing scalable educational materials for teachers and students and parents. The goal is to promote health literacy based on the four OAC key pillars, which we have translated into four RYHEALTH school projects." – Petra Thaller (Founder and President of OAC)

2. SAVE THE DATE: London Global Cancer Week – Highlighting the OAC Model for Holistic Health

On November 12, Petra Thaller, Dr. med. Tom Degenhardt and Ph.D. Rūdolf Ce?eiko will be speaking at the London Global Cancer Week, hosting two sessions:

• Maximising Cancer Survivorship: The OAC Model for Physical Activity and Holistic Health This session will discuss how cancer survivors can enhance their quality of life by integrating physical activity and mental well-being practices into their recovery journeys.
• WellBeingHER: A Holistic Training Platform for Early Breast Cancer Patients and Their Caregivers We will introduce our training platform specifically designed to support early breast cancer patients and caregivers with personalized holistic health strategies.

Both events will provide valuable insights and practical tools for healthcare professionals, patients, and survivors.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE SESSIONS & REGISTER ONLINE:??

Maximising Cancer Survivorship - OAC Model

WellBeingHER - Holistic Training Platform

"Women play a pivotal role in health promotion, disease prevention, and caregiving, not only for themselves but also for their families and communities. Their health literacy has a profound impact on the well-being of those around them."

– World Health Organization (WHO), Women’s Health and Well-being in Europe: Beyond the Mortality Advantage, 2022.

3. RYHEALTH Survey – Your Chance to?Shape the Future of Children's Health Literacy

OAC is proud to be a key partner in the RYHEALTH - Rock Your Health, co-funded by the European Union’s EU4Health Programme. This initiative is dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyles among children and adolescents, aligning with the European Beating Cancer Plan. As part of this effort, we are conducting the RYHEALTH Survey, designed to gather valuable insights into the health literacy and lifestyle habits of youth aged 10 to 17.9 years.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!??

We are calling on parents, educators, schools, sports clubs, and community organizations to encourage young people to participate. The survey is confidential and anonymous, takes just 20-25 minutes to complete, and will provide critical data to help improve health literacy for future generations.

TAKE THE RYHEALTH SURVEY NOW!

For more information about the RYHEALTH Project, visit?www.ryhealth.net.?

EU4Health Programme (EU4H) – Project ID: 101079938 – RYHEALTH

Stay tuned for updates as we advance our mission of holistic health promotion and the prevention of cancer and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

See you soon,

Petra

Rebel to be well!