PRIORITIES FOR CANCER RESEARCH IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE

By 2030, approximately three quarters of all cancer deaths will occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In addition, most of the projected increase in the global cancer burden in the next 50 years will occur in LMICs.

Despite this, cancer research is currently conducted overwhelmingly in high-income countries, with little regard for the limited transferability of knowledge gained in high-income countries to health systems and populations in LMICs.

In a new article, staff from WHO’s NCD Department, IARC and researchers from partner institutions identify five priorities for cancer research in LMICs, on the basis of current and projected needs. These priorities are: reducing the burden of patients with advanced disease; improving access, affordability and outcomes of cancer treatment; value-based care and health economics; quality improvement and implementation research; and leveraging technology to improve cancer control.

The article was published in the journal Nature Medicine - you can find it below.

OFFICIAL SELECTION OF THE HEALTH FOR ALL FILM FESTIVAL

Before the winners are announced, we are sharing the official selection of the 3rd edition of the Health for All Film Festival, featuring a new special prize for rehabilitation. 

We received around 300 short films submitted for the special prize on rehabilitation featuring a wide range of themes from different world regions. We would love to know what you think of the shortlisted films, particularly those shortlisted for the rehabilitation prize. You can watch the films below, and leave a comment using the hashtag #Film4health.

In the coming weeks, members of the jury including Sharon Stone, Emilia Clarke, Mia Maestro, Anita Abada, Eddie Ndopu and Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen will review the shortlisted films and recommend winners to the WHO Director-General, who will make the final decision. Three 'Grand Prix' and four special prizes, including the one on rehabilitation, will be announced mid-May during an online Awards Ceremony.

You can watch the complete official selection below.

Move Dance Feel is one of the films shortlisted for our Special Prize on Rehabilitation. It is dedicated to promoting the health benefits of dance for women living with or beyond cancer, including those caring for someone with cancer or bereaved by cancer.   

LAUNCH OF THE AFRICA CDC NCD, INJURIES AND MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY 2022-2026

From hypertension, to noma and cervical cancer, the African Region is uniquely critical to NCD outcomes. In some African countries, such as Mauritius, Namibia and Seychelles, NCDs cause over 50% of all reported adult deaths. NCDs are a leading cause of ill health, disability and premature death in the Region, which is having an adverse impact on socioeconomic development.

This week, Member States and stakeholders gathered to launch the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s strategy for NCDs, mental health and injuries. The agenda explored the impact of COVID-19 on NCDs and mental health, multisectoral efforts and partnerships for addressing NCDs, and the appropriate engagement of the private sector.

As part of the event, Dr Bente Mikkelsen spoke on how WHO is support Member States with the technical support needed to prevent and control NCDs, including action to accelerate progress against SDG target 3.4, and the importance of strong surveillance and monitoring to build a clear NCD picture across the region.

OUR LATEST NCD HARD TALK - ANOTHER MEETING, ANOTHER COMMITMENT: WHAT NOW? THE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE AND OUTCOMES

The future of global health is dominated by NCDs. The next decade will reveal whether our current actions are robust enough to meet the SDG target 3.4 to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by a third by 2030.

According to the recent Lancet NCD Countdown 2030, “implementing the most efficient package of interventions in each world region would require, on average, an additional US$18 billion annually over 2023–30.” The paper presents recommendations to help guide 123 low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to implement packages of NCD interventions, highlighting key financing and health system implementation considerations. The roadmap to 2030 will require efficient pathways of technical, financial and political commitment for NCDs. 

Following on from the International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and SDGs was convened, this webinar session asks leaders, implementers and academics: what is next? What will it take to reach the SDG 3.4 targets by 2030? Going beyond high-level meetings, how can countries instigate change to engage, accelerate, invest, align and account for a robust and operational NCD agenda?

We hope you can join us.

SIM PATIA explores the aftermath of a head injury, and why strong health systems can support people to regain their autonomy. It is one of 15 films shortlisted for our Special Prize on Rehabilitation.

INTEGRATING NOMA AND THE NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES AGENDAS

Noma is a necrotizing NCD that starts in the mouth. It is estimated to be fatal for 90% of affected children in poor communities, mostly in Africa, and often leads to lifelong disability and social exclusion.

WHO has encouraged Member States to adopt strategies for preventing and controlling oral diseases, including risk factors and their underlying social and commercial determinants are shared by other NCDs, and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

In a World Health Assembly Resolution on oral health (WHA74.5) in 2021, Member States gave WHO a mandate to “include noma in the planned WHO 2023 review process to consider the classification of additional diseases within the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021–2030.”

On 6 May, we are holding a stakeholders meeting to facilitate a coordinated effort among key stakeholders for the inclusion of noma in the planned WHO 2023 review process to consider classifying additional diseases in the road map for NTDs 2021–2030. 

Interpretation will be provided in English and French. 
 

LAUNCH OF THE WHO/EURO REGIONAL EUROPEAN OBESITY REPORT

Not a single country in the WHO European Region is on track to halt the rise in obesity by 2025.

On 3 May 2022, WHO Regional Office for Europe will launch the WHO European Regional Obesity Report 2022. This report, aimed at policy-makers and stakeholders, responds to the growing challenge and impact of obesity, providing the evidence to date, building on past publications that focus on overweight and obesity in the WHO European Region, and aligning it with initiatives to tackle cancer within Member States. The report concludes by recommending a suite of population-level interventions and policy options that Member States can consider in preventing and tackling obesity in the Region, with an emphasis on building back better after the COVID-19 pandemic.

People living with obesity are often stigmatized, drastically increasing their risk of mental health problems.

SEEKING YOUR SUBMISSIONS ON MULTISECTORAL ACTION ON NCDs AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

WHO has decided to extend the deadline of our call for submissions of country-level experiences acting across sectors on NCDs and mental health conditions to 30 June 2022, to allow additional countries across all WHO Regions to submit their experiences.

National and subnational governments  are strongly encouraged to submit their experiences through an online questionnaire. The questionnaire is mostly multiple-choice and requires no more than 20 minutes to complete. The supporting document for this Call for Submissions can be consulted on the Knowledge Action Portal.

All submissions will be reviewed and published as part of a global mapping exercise. The most innovative and insightful submissions will be developed into detailed case studies with support from local research institutes and WHO’s Global Coordination Mechanism on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and the Alliance for Health Policy and System Research.

The final case studies will be prominently featured and presented at several WHO global meetings, in preparation of the High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly (HLM4) in 2025.

SEEKING EXPERTS FOR OUR STRATEGIC AND TECHNICAL ADVISORY GROUP ON MEDICAL DEVICES

From surgical masks to complex radiotherapy equipment, medical devices are thousands of types of technologies, designed to protect, prevent, diagnose, treat, monitor and offer palliative care. These devices are used throughout the health care system from primary health care level to specialize care. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more attention has been brought to the urgent need to increase access to medical devices to support outbreaks, and to support essential health care services and the realization of the Universal Health Coverage.

WHO is seeking experts to serve as members one of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on Medical Devices (STAG MEDEV). 

The STAG MEDEV will act as an advisory body to WHO on matters of global policies and strategies related to medical devices and related health technologies. It will advise WHO on global priorities and emerging issues. WHO requires a Strategic Technical Advisory Group of Experts for medical devices to act as an Advisory Group to WHO.

HOUSEKEEPING

As part of efforts to improve WHO communications, we always want your feedback of what you like, and what you would like to see more of! Send me your feedback below.

THE TWEETS WE RETWEET

•  Tweets from the @WHO and @WHOAFRO Informal Consultation for people living with NCDs and mental health conditions (April 2022)
• Hear WHO NCD Department staff speak at the NCD Alliance event titled "Leave No One Behind: Ensuring inclusive NCD responses" (April 2022)