Sharjah to host first Childhood Non-Communicable Diseases Forum on March 25

The Emirate of Sharjah will host the first edition of the Global Forum on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) for Children, which is organised by the Friends of Cancer Patients (FOCP), in collaboration with the Global NCD Alliance, on March 25-26, at Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre (JRCC).

The forum will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of FOCP, International Ambassador for the World Cancer Declaration of the Union for International Cancer Control, (UICC), International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, and Patronof the Global NCD Alliance Forum.

The first of its kind internationally two-day Childhood NCD Forum will bring together high-profile officials and NCD leaders representing leading international health organisations, health experts and NCD specialists, as well as a group of youth from all around the world, who will share their stories and experiences with non-communicable diseases.

The high-profile event will examine the effects of non-medical factors on the prevalenceof NCDs among children, with a focus on the family’s role in NCD prevention and control, and in embracing healthy habits for protecting their children from lifestyle-related illnesses. 

The forum also seeks to launch a global health agenda, to call for enhancing the national response to NCDs, with a focus on healthy eating, physical activity and tobacco control. It additionally, seeks to come up with a proposed strategy highlighting the importance of rallying global attention to combat non-communicable diseases, by including pain killers and palliative care on the national NCD control plans. The proposed strategy aims to empower children and their families and inspire them to become champions in the fight against NCDs.

The childhood NCD forum is beingorganised by FOCP as part of its enduring efforts to combat cancer and support endeavours to eliminate the disease. The session follows a series of forums and conferences organised by the leading cancer prevention civil society organisation FOCP over the past years, with an aim to expanding the scope of discussion and rallying global efforts to combat NCDs.

In 2015, FOCP organised the first edition of the Global NCD Alliance Forum, which witnessed the announcement of the ‘Sharjah Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases’, that was endorsed by more than 230 health experts and high-profile global officials. The declaration stressed the need to champion NCD prevention and treatment as well to reduce NCD deaths by a one third. It also calls for investing in efforts aiming to reduce the global NCD burden.

In January 2018, FOCP organisedthe ‘Access to Essential Medicines for Children with Cancer (Sharjah PORTAGE) Forum, with the participation of 60 senior officials of international health organisations, medical and health experts from around the world.

Speakers discussed the best possible ways to ensure access for basic treatments and medicines for childhood cancers, especially children in low and middle-income countries. They also addressed the issue of identifying innovative financing mechanisms and funding partners to implement priority initiatives, to support children with cancerous tumours.