Good morning, good afternoon and good evening,
Every year, an estimated 350 thousand children are diagnosed with cancer in low- and middle-income countries. Many of them cannot access the treatment they need.
Only 25% of low-income countries cover childhood cancer medicines in their health benefit packages. This subjects children and families to significant suffering and financial hardship, or puts them at risk of receiving substandard and falsified medicines.
As a result, survival of children in these countries is less than 30 percent, compared with more than 90 percent for children in high income countries.
In September 2018, WHO launched the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, enabled by a contribution of 15 million US dollars from St Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the United States.
The initiative aims to reach survival rates of at least 60% in low- and middle-income countries by 2030, focusing on six cancers that are highly curable and represent more than half of all childhood cancers.
Thanks to our strong partnership with St Jude, the Initiative is now active in more than 70 countries.
So far, more than 20 of these countries have developed cancer strategies prioritising children, and several have passed new legislation to include childhood cancer in their essential health benefit packages.
Building on our partnership, in December 2021, WHO and St Jude announced the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, with the goal of providing universal, sustained access to quality-assured, essential cancer medicine for all children in low- and middle-income countries, free of charge.
St Jude has generously committed 200 million US dollars over six years to finance the platform.
So far, six countries have been engaged, and purchase orders are being prepared to deliver products within the next six months. We aim to reach 120 thousand children by 2027.
To say more, it’s now my honour to welcome the President and Chief Executive Officer of St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Dr Jim Downing.
Dr Downing, thank you so much for your leadership and partnership, and for joining us today. You have the floor.
[DR DOWNING SPEAKS]
Thank you so much, Dr Downing. Once again, we very much appreciate your support in our shared commitment to seeing all children benefit from the life-saving power of cancer medicines.
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Cancer medicines are among those that have been added to the latest version of the WHO Essential Medicines List and the Essential Medicines List for Children, which have been published today.
The new lists also include important new medicines for the treatment of multiple sclerosis, infectious diseases and cardiovascular conditions, among others.
These treatments could have a very large public health impact globally, without jeopardizing the health budgets of low- and middle-income countries.
The recommended changes bring the number of medicines on the Essential Medicines List to 502, and 361 for the Essential Medicines List for Children.
For over 40 years, countries all over the world have relied on the WHO Essential Medicines List as a definitive, evidence-based guide to the most important medicines for delivering the biggest health impact.
Rising prices and supply chain disruptions mean that all countries now face increasing problems in ensuring consistent and equitable access to many quality-assured essential medicines.
WHO is committed to supporting all countries to overcome these obstacles to increase equitable access to essential medicines.
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Extreme heat is continuing to threaten health across the northern hemisphere.
High temperatures and other conditions have also sparked wildfires in Algeria, Greece, Italy and Tunisia, with more than 40 people dead and thousands evacuated.
According to a report published last month by the World Meteorological Organization, Europe is the world’s fastest warming region.
And a new study published this month estimates that more than 61,000 people died from heat-related causes in 35 European countries during last year’s northern hemisphere summer, the hottest on record.
We are also concerned about the impact of extreme weather on the health of people who are displaced or living in conflict-affected or vulnerable settings, where there is limited or no access to safe water and sanitation, lack of cooling and shortage of medical supplies.
In north-west Syria, for example, 40 fires were reported in just three days this month, damaging homes and tents and putting the lives of families at risk of heat-related illnesses and disease outbreaks.
Heat stress, when the body cannot cool itself, can trigger exhaustion or heat stroke and exacerbate conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory and kidney diseases, as well as mental health problems.
Older people, infants, those who work outdoors and those who are chronically ill are especially vulnerable.
The adverse health effects of hot weather are preventable through common-sense precautions such as staying inside during the hottest time of the day if possible, and staying hydrated.
Governments can also help by having in place early-warning and response systems, strategies for the general population and vulnerable groups, and effective communication plans.
While adapting and responding heat waves and other extreme weather, we need to tackle and mitigate the causes, if we want to protect our health, our ecosystems, and our economies.
These heat waves and wildfires are another reminder of the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect the planet on which all life depends.
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This week, the International AIDS Society held its biennial scientific conference in Brisbane, Australia.
New guidance from WHO, along with a review published in The Lancet, highlight the role of HIV viral suppression in improving health and halting onward transmission.
Based on the evidence, the new WHO guidance outlines three levels of viral load.
First, people with undetectable viral load, with no measurable virus in their blood, have zero risk of transmission to their sexual partners.
Second, those with suppressed viral load, defined as less than 1000 copies of virus per millilitre of blood, have nearly zero or negligible risk of transmission.
And third, those with unsuppressed viral load of more than 1000 copies per millilitre are at increased risk of falling ill and-or passing the virus to their sexual partners or children.
Globally, more than 70% of all people living with HIV have undetectable or suppressed viral loads thanks to antiretroviral treatment, meaning they have a zero or negligible risk of transmitting HIV to their sexual partners.
The aim for all countries, therefore, should be to scale up testing and treatment to identify all those living with HIV, to support them to move towards suppressed and undetectable viral loads.
If we do that, we can realise the target in the Sustainable Development Goals of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
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Finally, this Friday, the 28th of July, is World Hepatitis Day.
Every year, viral hepatitis kills more than one million people, and more than three million are newly infected.
We know these numbers are under-estimates.
Millions of people around the world have undiagnosed and untreated hepatitis.
Too often, the disease goes undetected until symptoms become serious.
We now have better tools than ever to prevent, diagnose and treat hepatitis.
Around the world, WHO is supporting countries to expand the use of those tools, to eliminate hepatitis and save lives.
We’re committed to working with all countries, and all partners to realize our shared vision of eliminating viral hepatitis by 2030.
Tarik, back to you.