The WHO South-East Asia Region is intensifying action to address childhood cancer and the profound global inequity its burden represents. Every year, more than 400 000 children globally are diagnosed with cancer, the vast majority of whom live in low- and middle-income countries. An estimated 59 000 children in the Region are diagnosed with cancer annually, and almost 60% of them succumb to the disease – around four times the mortality rate of more developed regions. Since 2014 the Region has strived to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cancer, as a Flagship Priority. To achieve the targets identified in the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, which requires at least 60% of children with cancer to survive by 2030, WHO will continue to support Member States in the Region to identify and implement high-impact innovations, including several that are being launched today, on this International Childhood Cancer Day.
The Region’s momentum is strong. Flagship Priorities on preventing and controlling NCDs and achieving universal health coverage have promoted Region-wide action to enhance services to prevent, screen and treat cancer. All countries continue to implement multisectoral NCD action plans, in addition to a 2015 Regional Committee resolution on cancer prevention and control and the Region’s 2016 Colombo Declaration on increasing access to quality NCD services at the primary level. On childhood cancer specifically, in 2020 the Region launched the South-East Asia Regional Childhood Cancer Network, which brings together key institutions and stakeholders to advance evidence-based, cost-effective interventions to enhance the quality and reach of childhood cancer services. At present, 15 institutions from 10 Member States are participating in the Network, with more set to follow.
Today, WHO is launching three innovative tools that will help all countries in the Region accelerate progress against childhood cancer and advance global health equity. First, the CureAll technical package provides policy-makers and programme managers actionable guidance on how best to implement the four pillars of the Global Initiative. All countries should take immediate steps to identify priority interventions, establish monitoring frameworks and develop sound investment cases. Second, the WHO Knowledge Action Portal will provide ministries of health and other stakeholders an online hub to share resources and establish new partnerships and collaborations. And third, a new assessment tool will help harmonize data collection and enable ministries of health to carry out rapid situational analyses that reflect their unique national context. Interventions to address childhood cancer must continue to be data driven and dynamic, and linked to the broader NCD agenda.
The Region must sustain and accelerate momentum. As WHO and its Member States continue to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, the push to fully implement the Global Initiative and NCD agenda has gathered pace, especially in the wake of a WHO global meeting on NCDs in December and the January release of a WHO report on overcoming NCD-related policy implementation challenges. Progress against childhood cancer will help all countries achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1, on ending poverty; SDG3, on health and well-being for all at all ages; SDG10, on reducing inequalities; SDG16, on promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies; and SDG17, on enhancing cross-sector and cross-country collaboration. We must seize the moment and press ahead.
On this International Childhood Cancer Day, WHO reiterates its commitment to support all countries in the Region to intensify action to address childhood cancer and to correct the profound global inequity its burden represents. Through targeted action that is aligned with the WHO Global Initiative and CureAll technical package, Member States can strengthen the quality and reach of services to detect and treat childhood cancer and achieve the regional and global targets to which they are committed. Building a healthier, more equitable and sustainable Region and world is possible. We must dare to be bold and act now.