Special session of World Health Assembly (29 November 2021 - 1 December 2021)

2021_WHASS2_SIOP Full Statement

Collaboration Plan between WHO and SIOP for the period 2018-2020

Joint WHO SIOP Work plan Progress Summary - April 2020

Under the WHO Framework of Engagement as a non-State Actor, SIOP has submitted our 2019 collaboration “short report” on our workplan progress, particularly on SIOP activities within the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC).

SIOP has 3 areas of collaboration with attendant objectives and activities. 2018-2020 progress is summarized below.

  1. Promotion of integrated, people-centred health services, inclusion of childhood cancer in national cancer control planning, increase in childhood cancer awareness activities, and improvement in early referral
    1. PROGRESS
      • SIOP physicians and nurses actively participated in each WHO Myanmar, Peru, Uzbekistan, Ghana and Philippines workshops.
      • SIOP contributed to the inclusion of nurses in GICC and successfully published a position paper, to support WHO, and represent the importance of nursing in cancer care. “An ethical imperative: Safety and specialization as nursing priorities of WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer”
      • SIOP has used its existing platforms including annual conferences to disseminate best practices and other relevant inputs and outputs of GICC.
      • SIOP has supported the formulation of the “Integrated People-centred Health Services” tool through technical inputs and will support piloting in focus countries during 2020.
      • SIOP has supported WHO with technical content on early diagnosis of childhood cancers and participated in national workshops addressing this challenge.
    2. a) Workforce, b) situation, c) cancer control, and d) WHO Global Report on Cancer
      1. PROGRESS
        1. Workforce – SIOP has helped gather best practices and strengthen health workforce at the in-country workshop in Ghana.
        2. Situation – SIOP Global Mapping Survey has been completed for Africa and is being used by WHO to support its agenda in workforce training
        3. Cancer Control – support national cancer control programme planning and implementation
        4. Global Report on Cancer – provided support for and helped disseminate both WHO Report on Cancer and the IARC World Cancer Report
      2. a) Development of a tool to assess current access to essential medicines and priority medical devices, b) assessment of current pathology and laboratory medicine, c) situational analysis in 2-3 countries regarding essential medicines and priority medical devices for
        1. PROGRESS
          1. SIOP provided expert input and data on access to Essential Medicines and technologies.
          2. Guide for establishing a pathology laboratory in the context of cancer control has been released by WHO and SIOP has supported the dissemination among the paediatric oncology community and the affiliated multidisciplinary disciplines.
          3. SIOP expert inputs and feedback on situational analysis have been provided. The final tool by WHO will be delivered in countries 2020/2021 and SIOP will support the dissemination.

We thank all SIOP members around the world who voluntarily contributed to the progress of the WHO/SIOP workplan initiative, CCI and other partners for their excellent collaboration and André Ilbawi from WHO, who continuously and tirelessly accompanies the common initiative.

  • Julia Challinor
  • Susanne Wollaert
  • Gabriele Calaminus for the WHO/SIOP workplan group

Non-state actor in official relations with WHO

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;

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.