The international convention Defeating Childhood and Adolescent Cancer and Reducing Global Disparities aims to bring equitable care to children and adolescents with cancer worldwide in order to improve global cure rates and reduce disparities. The high-level event seeks to unite global efforts for a healthier future for all.

To plan the convention, WHO and the ELPIDA Foundation for Children with Cancer (Cyprus) have joined efforts with GFAOP (Groupe Franco-Africain d’Oncologie Pédiatrique), SIOP-E (the European branch of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology), the WHO Collaborating Center for Childhood Cancer at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (United States of America), and other key partners and stakeholders from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

A call to action: every child needs protection from cancer

While advancements in treatment have led to improved outcomes in many high-income countries, children in low- and middle-income countries face significant disparities in access to lifesaving therapies and support.

This convention will launch a global campaign by ELPIDA and Cyprus aiming to enhance international collaboration and innovation in paediatric oncology, ensuring that every child has access to the therapies and support they need.

Cyprus, situated at the heart of the Mediterranean with a rich history of cross-regional interaction, has unique opportunities to step up as a junction between countries, cultures and worldviews for a better future of health for all people.

The event is being supported by the WHO Country Office in Cyprus, the newest of WHO country offices globally. It was established in January 2023 to harness Cyprus’s strategic positioning to help realize the vision shared by WHO and the Ministry of Health to:

strengthen inter-regional collaboration for health and well-being and cross-border health security; and
showcase the potential for applying Cypriot expertise in the WHO European Region and beyond.
This high-level convention with Cypriot patronage, coupled with the inter-regional reach of its collaborating partners, upholds both elements of that shared vision. The event will also be supported by the WHO/Europe cancer team’s technical leadership as part of the Special Initiative on Noncommunicable Disease and Innovation.

The convention will bring together health professionals, experts, decision-makers, researchers and other high-level stakeholders from 3 WHO regions: the African Region, the Eastern Mediterranean Region and the European Region. It aims to advance efforts in addressing diagnosis inequalities to ensure better support for the patients and their families.

Event schedule
On 13 and 14 February, international experts and stakeholders will share strategies for addressing disparities in childhood cancer care, emphasizing early diagnosis, equitable access to treatment and capacity-building.

The convention will culminate in a high-level event on 14 February aimed at advancing the paediatric oncology agenda in the European Region and beyond. There, the international initiative Cyprus Global Hope for Childhood Cancer – Bridging Gaps, Saving Lives will be presented.

A global movement
The international convention in Cyprus represents a bold step forward in global collaboration to address pressing challenges and share innovative strategies in the spirit of global partnership.