The largest NCD event in late September was the many NCD related advancements made during United Nations General Assembly which will be celebrated in a special UNGA NCD newsletter. But here we wish to celebrate all the other events and advancements made on NCDs around the world, especially those on cancer for childhood cancer awareness month.
WHO NCD Department & Alliance Kick-Off NCD Implementation Research Projects
The WHO NCD Department and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research convened the kick-off meeting to inaugurate four projects on NCD Implementation Research. These research projects, supported by WHO Norway's NCD Flagship Initiative and funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation, are designed to bolster the delivery of integrated, person-centred NCD services at the primary healthcare (PHC) level.
The projects include designing, implementing and assessing:
- In Ethiopia, the delivery of comprehensive diabetes, hypertension, and cervical cancer services through an adapted HEARTS package.
- In Ghana, the integration of hypertension and diabetes care with HIV services.
- In India, the utilization of m-health technology and community health workers to enhance drug adherence for coronary artery disease.
- In Nepal, the role of female community health volunteers in reducing systolic blood pressure.
This meeting served as a catalyst for the exchange of ideas and expertise. It brought together WHO staff members from the NCD Department and the Alliance, representatives from WHO country offices, and the four dedicated research teams. The collaborative environment fostered information sharing, networking, and inspired brainstorming sessions, all aimed at advancing NCD-related implementation research at PHC level. Stay tuned as we embark on this journey to enhance NCD services through implementation research. We anticipate sharing the study findings at the beginning of next year, marking a significant step forward in our commitment to tackling NCDs.
For more information contact: Sarah Rylance rylances@who.int
Cancer Control Mission to improve the control of oncological diseases in Kyrgyzstan.
The Cancer Control Mission of the WHO to improve the control of oncological diseases in Kyrgyzstan took place from August 21 to 25. The aims of the WHO mission were to review the national Cancer Control Strategy 2021-2025 and assist with the preparation of upcoming revisions, assess readiness to become a GICC Country (in the process of evaluation by EURO and HQ Cancer Teams) and launch the Russian version of the Childhood Cancer inequalities report, launch the WHO-IARC DEDICA Study in the country, discuss the progress and way forward in the country with the PEN4 project on early detection of Breast and Cervical Cancer and Palliative Care, and identify cancer needs and prepare the "roadmap" for the next biennium 2024-2025. Based on the data obtained and their analysis, the mission will contribute to the development of standards and methodologies that will help in the planning and implementation of measures for the early detection and treatment of cancer, as well as the provision of palliative care and support for people who have had cancer. Approximately 400,000 children between the ages of 0 and 19 are diagnosed with cancer each year worldwide. Almost 9 out of 10 of these children live in low- and middle-income countries, and every year this disease claims the lives of about 100,000 children.
For questions on Childhood Cancer contact gicc@who.int & for General Cancer Inquiries contact cancer@who.int
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2023
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) is marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month 2023 with a series of posts highlighting some of the different research projects IARC is undertaking with the goals of better understanding how cancer develops in children and improving the measurement of the global burden of childhood cancer. These posts will focus on research examining the effect of diets of mothers and children on a child’s risk of developing cancer, the financial difficulties experienced by families of children with cancer, and how the increasing numbers of survivors of childhood cancer need to be estimated to enable health-care systems to meet service requirements. IARC also have a handy playlist to many aspects and viewpoints on childhood cancer: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgDB39BFocs0z9V0O7yZvrv_3EvtsHlBY&feature=shared
For questions on Childhood Cancer contact gicc@who.int & for General Cancer Inquiries contact cancer@who.int
Six countries make steps to join GPACCM
Only countries which are already GICC Members were considered for the first round of the GPACCM trial. In the first round for GPACCM project technical self-assessments were carried out by the countries of Ecuador, Jordan, Mongolia, Nepal, Uzbekistan and Zimbabwe to support them in joining the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines. The self-assessments were conducted by national experts, led by the Ministries of Health, and assisted technically by the WHO, St. Jude, and UNICEF. This included visits to the relevant clinical, training, and medicine storage facilities. This intersectoral dialogue aims to help countries build up on the success of the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer through the effective implementation of its #CureAll pillars and enablers and to contribute to the Platform's global launch in December 2023.
For questions on Childhood Cancer contact gicc@who.int & for General Cancer Inquiries contact cancer@who.int
A new issue of the WHO Newsletter on Childhood Cancer is out:
Public Consultation: WHO PPC Therapeutic HPV Vaccines
Thank you all for your contributions toward developing WHO preferred product characteristics (PPCs) for therapeutic HPV vaccines. Your input has been invaluable, as leaders in this field and as participants in the global consultations that took place throughout this process. The draft therapeutic HPV vaccine PPC document has now been posted for public comment. We believe the therapeutic HPV vaccine PPCs are an important step in evaluating and advancing new innovations in the fight against cervical cancer, and we truly appreciate your contributions!
If you have any further comments on the PPC document, please submit your feedback through the Comment Form (on the link and attached) and send to Dr Holly Prudden at pruddenh@who.int using the subject line “Comment: WHO PPCs for therapeutic HPV vaccines” by 6 October 2023.
Off-track cervical cancer progress risks 70 000 deaths every year in Africa
Gaborone – About 70 000 cervical cancer deaths could be averted annually in the African region if the efforts to end the disease by 2030 are urgently stepped up to ensure increased access to critical services for timely detection, care and prevention. Health leaders and donors meeting for the Seventy-third session of the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committed for Africa this week in Gaborone, Botswana, called on countries to act swiftly to bolster essential health services to adequately address cervical cancer in the region which is home to 19 of the 20 countries globally with high burden of the disease.
For further information contact Meenakshi Dalal
The journey of cancer patients and the quest to equity: findings from Morocco
6 September: In a new article, scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and clinicians from four oncology centres in Morocco report that the time interval to confirm a diagnosis of cancer for patients in Morocco was, on average, almost twice as long as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and several high-income countries. The results were published in the journal Public Health. The researchers recruited more than 800 patients with cancer from four major oncology centres in Morocco and recorded the duration of different steps along the health-care pathway: the time intervals between the recognition of symptoms by patients, their first medical consultation, referral to biopsy and sampling, diagnosis of cancer, and initiation of treatment. These events are collectively defined as the patient’s journey to treatment. The study also collected sociodemographic information, medical information, and information relating to access to the oncology centre, patients’ beliefs, and patients’ opinions about the attitudes of medical staff.
For further information contact Veronique Terrasse
Gains in life expectancy from decreasing cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality
An analysis of 28 European countries 1995–2019
Researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), in collaboration with counterparts at the National Institute of Oncology in Hungary, provide an in-depth analysis of gains in life expectancy over the past quarter of a century that are attributable to progress in the control of cardiovascular disease (CVD) compared with common cancer types in each of 28 European countries and in Europe overall from 1995 to 2019. The results were published in the European Journal of Epidemiology. The study also contrasts life expectancy gains in the founding countries of the European Union (EU) with those in countries that acceded to the EU in 2004 (the A10 countries).
For further information contact Veronique Terrasse
WHO–ITU global standard for safe listening in video gaming and e-sports
28 – 29 September: Video gaming and e-sports have surged in global popularity, captivating up to 3 billion enthusiasts worldwide. With a user base of 600 million on console platforms and 1.1 billion on personal computers, these activities have solidified their status as both premier entertainment forms and have born new streams of competitive gameplay, referred to as e-sports. The increasing prevalence of prolonged and loud audio exposure in these activities has raised serious health concerns, particularly related to hearing damage and sound-induced hearing loss. In response to this public health concern, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are commencing a work item to develop a standard for safe listening in video gaming and e-sports activities. The work item, proposed by WHO and accepted by ITU in July 2023, includes a series of imperative technical workshops. These workshops will serve as platforms to assemble proficient experts, stakeholders, and industry representatives, fostering concerted actions and the formulation of guidelines and standards for safe listening in video gaming and e-sports activities.
The first workshop on “Developing standing for safe listening in video gaming and e-sports activities will comprise of interactive sessions for the in-person and remote participants, allowing for discussions and presentations from experts in the fields of audiology, gaming, e-sports, technology, and public health. Toolkit for safe listening devices and systems: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/toolkit-for-safe-listening-devices-and-systems
For further information contact the Make Listening Safe team at WHO via mls@who.int
Elimination of cervical cancer in Latin America
The elimination of cervical cancer in Latin America (Project ECHO-ELA): lessons from phase one of implementation, describes the outcomes of The Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes-Elimination of Cervical Cancer in The Americas (ECHO-ELA) program, which was developed as a tri-lateral cooperation between Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) and The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson). The program’s purpose is to disseminate strategies for cervical cancer prevention and is structured around the three pillars of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy and the associated 90-70-90 target goals. The target audience includes health authorities from Latin American and Caribbean countries, as well as PAHO’s non-communicable disease Focal Points in country offices as well as clinical and public health collaborators. Respondents stated that the topics they learned the most about included the state of HPV vaccination in the region and strategies for implementing HPV vaccination. Identified needs included support between ECHO sessions and country-specific technical assistance.
For further information contact Cayon, Ms. Arantxa
WHO Webinar on access to medical morphine
Following the publication of WHO report Left Behind in Pain in June and to coincide with Pain Awareness Month in September, WHO hosted three webinars during September to share country experiences and to discuss the policy landscape for bringing about safe access to morphine for medical use globally. Experts reflected on their endeavours to transform clinical services and policy landscape to ensure safe access to morphine and other strong opioids. These include the decades long work in India for opioid access, advocacy and leadership in Latin America, policies in Germany, access abyss globally, the North American opioid crisis, and human-rights centric policy. The expert panel exchanged their views on ways for overcoming the long-standing challenges in bringing safe access to people in need globally.
For further information contact: Dr Kiu Siang Tay through accesstomorphinestudy@who.int
Accelerating Actions for NCDs through Primary Health Care
September 27, 12:30 - 2:00 PM (EDT): As part of the 60th Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization, on Wednesday 27 September, there will be the briefing session "Accelerating Action for NCDs through Primary Health Care". The session will take place from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. (EDT), and will be broadcasted live on PAHO´s YouTube channel.
The objectives of the session are:
- Advocate for accelerated action to expand equitable access to comprehensive services, health technologies, and interventions for the prevention and control of NCDs at the national, subnational, and local levels, based on Primary Health Care;
- Present country experiences on the expansion and integration of NCDs within Primary Health Care, including innovations adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic, and
- Launch the PAHO Initiative Better Care for NCDs, Accelerating Action in Primary Health Care.
For more PAHO NCD news, subscribe to NCDs and Mental Health newsletter https://paho.us10.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4fafdad73cde9b252d2a05b25&id=e012115ed5
For further information contact cayona@paho.org
Together accelerating the cure of cancer in children and adolescents 2022
21 September: The Pan American Health Organization cordially invites you to the webinar "Together accelerating the cure of cancer in children and adolescents 2022." This is an important event to disseminate the focus of the prioritized set of essential interventions comprised in the second pillar in the CUREALL technical package Universal coverage. This universal health coverage can reduce financial difficulties by including effective support services to facilitate access to health care for children and adolescents with Cancer. This webinar will emphasize the importance of the participation and commitment of the leading national, regional, and international key actors to maximize the success of the implementation of the childhood cancer initiative and connect with the primary goal of improving the survival and alleviating the suffering of all children, and adolescents with Cancer. The event will have presentations by PAHO's childhood cancer teams, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and institutions carrying out activities under the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer.
For questions on Childhood Cancer contact gicc@who.int & for General Cancer Inquiries contact cancer@who.int
KidAd app: track marketing exposure to children
For global week for action on NCDs WHO has a new AI tool that will help safeguard the health of our families and children by creating a safer online space. The WHO AI tool developed by the Euro NCD Office empowers consumers to keep an eye on the advertising industry, ensuring they don't promote harmful products that are contributing risk factors to such NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. At this year’s WHO LEAD Innovation challenge, the team presented the concept of the KidAd app – an application for monitoring marketing exposure to children on their mobile devices. The LEAD Innovation Challenge, an initiative of the WHO Innovation Hub, is an investment in WHO's leadership in the global health innovation ecosystem. LEAD is about problem-solving, ideas and innovation for impact. This year, the challenge spotlighted two pivotal themes: Country Health Impact and Wildcards, guiding innovations towards our ambitious Triple Billion targets and reshaping WHO's operational dynamics. Out of 53 innovative concepts from across WHO, only 10 -including KidAd - were chosen for expert coaching, each vying for the opportunity to secure LEAD seed funding. We are eagerly awaiting what the next phase holds for us and are hopeful to continue our LEAD journey while further developing KidAd.
For more info please contact Kremlin Wickramasinghe Nuwan Weerasinghe Olga Zhiteneva
WHO Collaborating Centers continue to achieve gains in the prevention and treatment of NCDs globally
In the last few weeks, -St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, together with WHO and partners, is reviewing the progress on implementation of WHO Global Initiative Childhood Cancer and its goal of reaching the most vulnerable; New York University, a WHO Collaborating Centre for Quality-Improvement, Evidence-Based Dentistry is kick-starting the WHO Global Oral Health Action plan through hosting a side event on the occasion of the 2nd United Nations High-level Meeting on UHC; The National Center for NCDs at China CDC, a redesignated WHO Collaborating Center on Community-based Integrated NCD Prevention and Control, is preparing national conference at theme: New Era, New Journey, Striving for High Quality Development of NCD Prevention and Control; WHO Regional Office for Europe has established a series of virtual briefings to engage with WHO collaborating centres in the region. The recent one was on Capacity building for Prevention and Control of Non Communicable Diseases with WHO CCs.
Many WHO collaborating centres support the WHO NCD department in its strategic functions. Some typical types of activities conducted by these collaborating centres are: training and education; research; technical product development (guidelines, manuals, etc.); implementation of WHO programmes and activities at country level; and collation of information. The WHO-NCD department has just released a webpage to highlight their work. On this webpage we share important contributions or deliverables made by WHO collaborating centres, network opportunities among WHO collaborating centres to work together, and promote institutional collaborations – particularly with institutions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).
For further information contact: xuh@who.int
Impact of the WHO "best buys" for alcohol policy on consumption and health in the Baltic countries and Poland 2000–2020
A new article in the Lancet has been published detailing how alcohol use is a major risk factor for burden of disease. This narrative review aims to document the effects of major alcohol control policies, in particular taxation increases and availability restrictions in the three Baltic countries (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) between 2000 and 2020. These measures have been successful in curbing alcohol sales, in general without increasing consumption of alcoholic beverages from unrecorded sources; although for more recent changes this may have been partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, findings from time-series analyses suggest improved health, measured as reductions in all-cause and alcohol-attributable mortality, as well as narrowing absolute mortality inequalities between lower and higher educated groups. For most outcomes, there were sex differences observed, with alcohol control policies more strongly affecting males. In contrast to this successful path, alcohol control policies were mostly dismantled in the neighbouring country of Poland, resulting in a rising death toll due to liver cirrhosis and other alcohol-attributable deaths.
WHO has been involved over the years and contributed to the project’s inception and the overall implementation. The project is led by scientists from WHO Collaborating Centers and involved all three WHO country offices as well as the Regional Office, always with a strong focus on capacity building in the Baltic countries through this project. The WHO programme organized a series of technical trainings for the research team behind the project. There was also a week of capacity building activities in Tallinn [https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/events/item/2023/05/14/default-calendar/a-week-of-capacity-building-training-and-policy-dialogues-on-alcohol-control]
The natural experiment in this region of high-income European countries with high consumption levels highlights the importance of effective alcohol control policies for improving population health.
For further information on the WHO programme see this short overview report published with key results: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2023-7517-47284-69366#:~:text=The%20key%20findings%20of%20the,opposite%20effect%20on%20population%20health.
For further information contact Carina Ferreira-Borges ferreiraborgesc@who.int; ZURLYTE, Ingrida zurlytei@who.int; NEUFELD, Maria neufeldm@who.int
Please send your updates for inclusion in the next edition of the NCDs Newsflash: johannesa@who.int
