As a lead-in to the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being (HLM4), the side event will shine a spotlight on children affected by cancer, sickle cell disease and other rare and catastrophic conditions.
The side event will be hosted by the Government of Uzbekistan, in partnership with WHO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and take place the day before the start of HLM4. The event is intended to set the tone for the discussions on tackling the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) that threaten the health of more than 2 billion children worldwide and hinder progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) —particularly the targets to reduce under-5 mortality and achieve a one-third reduction in premature deaths from NCDs.
Objectives of the event
Despite medical advances, too many children continue to die from preventable or treatable diseases. In low- and middle-income countries fewer than 30% of children with cancer survive, and nearly half of all children with sickle cell disease die before the age of 5. Palliative care, essential to reducing suffering and improving quality of life, is still considered a new concept in many countries of the WHO European Region and beyond.
The HLM4 side event calls on global leaders to accelerate action, improve access to care and ensure no child is left behind in the NCD response. There is an urgency and opportunity to save lives through equitable, integrated and sustainable care for children with rare and catastrophic diseases.
Programme highlights
- Personal stories from children and families affected by childhood cancer and sickle cell disease.
- High-level remarks – from WHO, St Jude, the Government of Uzbekistan and partners.
- Panel 1. Sustaining progress in childhood cancer: scaling national programmes, strengthening systems and ensuring long-term investment.
- Panel 2. Advancing a global sickle cell initiative: sharing country experiences and building a global roadmap towards better survival rates.
Follow the event to build a movement that ensures health, dignity and survival for every child, everywhere.