The World Health Organization (WHO) has approved SIOP as one of their non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in official relations. This represents a major advancement for the paediatric oncology community and for the support of the worldwide fight against childhood cancer.

The application and three-year work plan (2018 – 2020) were approved during the recent 142nd session of the WHO Executive Board held in Geneva (Switzerland) from 22 – 27 January 2018 and this new mandate provides SIOP with unique opportunities, privileges and responsibilities. SIOP will have a presence at WHO meetings and collaborate within the rich network of WHO partners.

As a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), SIOP has committed to contribute substantially to WHO activities according to the agreed and accepted working plan by:

• Providing technical inputs on follow-up of regional/national workshops, local stakeholders workplans, and advocacy;
• Supporting programmes that address competencies for childhood cancer control by disseminating WHO guidance and using the robust SIOP network;
• Conducting advocacy activities to improve access to essential medicines and medical technologies, by performing a situational analysis, identifying barriers and supporting implementation of programmes in select countries;

As usual, the EB156 agenda is very comprehensive and we attempted to match them with the priorities outlined in our strategic plan. Hence, SIOP will actively engaged on the following topics:

Agenda Item 6: Universal Health Coverage: SIOP led constituency statement on the Rare Disease Resolution supported by:

• CCI (Childhood Cancer International)
• IAHPC (International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care)
• IPA (International Pediatric Association)
• ISN (International Society of Nephrology)
• IAPB (International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness)

1. Bringing visibility to childhood cancer & other rare childhood diseases in the framework of an upcoming new WHA Resolution on Rare Diseases
2. Advocating that the actions stemming from the Resolution coordinate with existing WHO initiatives in relevant fields – incl. the GICC, GAP-f, research
3. Childhood cancer inclusion in UHC schemes across continents demonstrates that bold strides in health equity are possible in rare diseases.

Read statement

Agenda Item 7: Follow-up to the political declaration of the third high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of NCDs” Individual statement reiterating:

1. Childhood cancer burden & GICC response
2. Childhood cancer as a WHO Best Buy à multiplier potential of investment in this area.
3. Actions on childhood cancers should be integral to renewed commitments on NCDs & childhood cancer to be explicitly included in the process leading up to the 4th High Level Meeting on NCDs and its political declaration.

Read statement

Furthermore, SIOP supported:

Constituency statement led by WFNMB & ISR on Agenda item 6. UHC, Topic Imaging

1. Medical imaging is vital for the diagnosis of numerous communicable and NCDs, incl. cardiovascular diseases, neurologic diseases and cancer
2. Timely and equitable access to medical imaging, including nuclear medicine, should be an essential component of the WHO PHC & UHC initiatives.

Constituency statement led by NCD Alliance on Agenda item 12. Workforce

1. Strengthen capacity for essential public health functions to respond to the growing burden of NCDs
2. Prioritise health workforce issues, as they are critical for achieving Universal Health Care (UHC), Child Mortality, and NCD related targets.
3. Deliver age and disability inclusive and gender responsive services
4. We highlight the importance of establishing collaborative care models that use multidisciplinary teams, from community health workers to specialists.

Statements have been posted to official WHO NSA statement platform as well as on the SIOP website. We would like to thank Mts Olga Kozhaeva (Director European and Global Health Policy, Paediatric Oncology, Siop Europe) for her unwavering guidance, our Advocacy committee, WHO NSA engagement committee and all partners who contributed their expertise to these statements.

We would like to thank Prof Maja Beck-Popovic, WHO NSA Engagement Committee member, to make the time in her busy schedules to attend the official proceedings and be our voice. Unfortunately, the session was carried over to the next day and Prof Beck-Popovic could no longer read our statements. But she was able to network and make important contacts with member states and other NSAs leading up to the World Health Assembly this year.
We would like to thank Mrs Junu Shrestha, MPH, MSc HPPF, Policy and Advocacy Manager, International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB) and Dr Stephen Connor, Executive Director, Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance foe being able to deliver our statements on Prof Beck-Popovic’s behalf.

SIOP is now a step further in placing the fight against Childhood and Adolescent Cancer on the Global Agenda and making a difference in the lives of children with cancer and their families worldwide.

The SIOP Global Advocacy Committee thanks the SIOP community and all partners for their continuous support during the application process.

We look forward to using this opportunity to expand our work together to improve the global situation for children with cancer.