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MEMPHIS, Tenn (localmemphis.com) – St. Jude Children's Research Hospital said Thursday it will join the World Health Organization to fight cancer worldwide.
The five-year collaboration will focus on transforming cancer care to treat at least 60% of children with six of the most common types of cancer by 2030.
This collaboration is a global initiative that will bring together child cancer actors from around the world to improve access to care for children with cancer, improve quality of care by developing national centers of excellence and regional satellites. and influence the integration of cancer in children. national policies to ensure the best chances of survival.
"Cancer prevents the lives of too many children," said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ph.D., "We can not tolerate a world in which some children have access to world-class treatment, while others simply die because they are poor. Cancer in the child is a powerful symbol of the need for universal health coverage.
Every year, approximately 300,000 children and adolescents should be diagnosed with cancer. About 8 out of 10 children live in low- and middle-income countries, where cure rates are often estimated at only 20%. In contrast to high-income countries, where cure rates exceed 80%, largely due to advances in medicine and specialized multidisciplinary care for children with cancer over the last 50 years. This division of survival rates between high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries is one of the largest health disparities in the world.
Limited access to affordable and quality medicines, as well as the risk of financial catastrophe resulting from direct payments are the hallmarks of the cancer problem in children.
"St. Jude was founded on the idea that no child should die at the dawn of life, "said James R. Downing, M.D., President and CEO of St. Jude. "While we have been able to advance this vision for many children with cancer, the reality is that in most parts of the world, four in five children with cancer are still dying of their disease. We have the ability to change that. This initiative will provide the tools and resources needed to determine how childhood cancer is treated globally, by encouraging national health systems to make childhood cancer a priority and by significantly improving the rates of childhood cancer. healing of children with cancer.
Bringing together St. Jude's and WHO's forces to expand services, capacities and partnerships to fight childhood cancer, this collaboration provides a platform to support implementation efforts in the field of cancer. countries to fight cancer in children. The effort combines the technical assistance of an expert from St. Jude and a $ 15 million designated investment with a WHO authority working with governments and leaders of health systems. health at the regional and global levels.
Activities will include support for clinical care for the most vulnerable children, ensuring that all children with cancer can access quality medicines and technologies, and strengthening training programs by developing treatment centers. # 39; excellence.
For more than two decades, St. Jude has invested in local programs and leaders in resource-poor countries to improve the quality of care and outcomes for children and adolescents.
In March 2018, the hospital was named the first WHO Collaborating Center for Cancer in Children. In May 2018, it officially launched St. Jude Global, which provides an initial investment of $ 100 million to accelerate efforts to improve child survival rates around the world through regional, national and hospital efforts. .
L & # 39; WHO-St. The Jude effort is the result of World Health Assembly Resolution 70.12 on the prevention and control of cancer. Adopted in May 2017, the resolution reflects the commitment of WHO and governments to strengthen cancer services for children as part of national cancer control programs.
The initiative is being discussed in New York on Thursday, 27 September and Friday, 28 September, at the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, and at the side event. inaugural event on childhood cancer. Heads of State and Government will report on their countries' efforts to combat noncommunicable diseases, which are responsible for 7 out of 10 deaths worldwide.
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