In order to raise awareness of the increasing cancer and tobacco burden in India, the American Cancer Society is partnering with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Foundation to sponsor a journalist public health bootcamp in India for approximately 25 journalists. The bootcamp will take place in Delhi during the last week of April 2007 and will cover leading chronic diseases topics related to heart disease and diabetes, in addition to cancer and tobacco control.

Over a period of three days, the bootcamp will feature presentations and panels from Indian health care experts who participate in American Cancer Society partnerships, the American Cancer Society, the CDC; and other Indian organizations that collaborate with the Society.

The Indian Institute of Mass Communications was selected as a potential hosting partner of the bootcamp due to its many offerings, including: its reputation as a leading communications university; its high quality facilities; and its potential ability to recruit leading journalists from across the Indian nation, including Delhi. India was selected as the location for a public health journalist bootcamp due to the high volume of applicants the CDC receives from India for its annual global journalist bootcamp held in Atlanta. It was also selected because of the American Cancer Societys India Cancer Initiative, activities in India, and relationships with Indian health care professionals and leading government officials including the Health Minister and the Prime Minister.

The model for this Indian bootcamp draws on the success of the CDC journalist bootcamp held in Beijing, China, in October 2006. At the prestigious Tshingua University, approximately 40 health care and mainstream journalists from across China heard presentations from leading health care professionals employed at the World Health Organization, CDC, China CDC, the China Anti-Cancer Association, and the American Cancer Society. Leading officials came for a reception and the Minister of Health in China gave the keynote address. Journalists had the opportunity to listen to presentations, meet health care professionals, and ask questions to a panel of experts, in order to
garner ideas, information and quotes for potential newspaper articles.

During the April 2007 Indian journalist bootcamp, the American Cancer Society will also hold its second American Cancer Society University (ACSU), a weeklong training for cancer and tobacco control professionals, in Delhi. ACSU trainings gather health care professionals from across India to learn and collaborate on issues specific to building cancer control capacity. ACSUs additionally provide seed grant funding for its attendees, in order to create community-based cancer fighting programs. Bootcamp attendees will have the opportunity to observe a portion of this ACSU training.

We are excited about this historic event and the opportunity it affords Indian journalists to learn more about the rising burden and costs of cancer, tobacco, and chronic diseases.

Contact:
Email Gita Pullapilly: gita.pullapilly@cancer.org
Put in the subject line: Indian journalist

Note:
Travel and housing will be provided to fellows and they will be considered for additional grant opportunities.

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