UN General Assembly president asks for equality in cancer treatment

UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The president of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, Maria Fernanda Espinosa, on Monday called for equity in diagnosis, treatment and care for cancer patients.

She made the plea in a tweet on World Cancer Day, which falls on Feb. 4. "Today, on #WorldCancerDay we raise awareness on the importance of prevention and screenings to combat this global health challenge. Equity in diagnosis, treatment and care must apply to all human beings -- no matter where they live, their income, or gender."

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer is responsible for almost one in six deaths globally. This year, the WHO is focusing on cervical cancer.