By DAYO ADESULU
Pilot Phase Begins with Shipments to Mongolia and Uzbekistan
Geneva, Switzerland— The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched a groundbreaking initiative to provide free cancer medicines to thousands of children in low- and middle-income countries, aiming to close the gap in survival rates.
Expanding Access to Life-Saving Treatments
The first shipments of cancer medications have been delivered to Mongolia and Uzbekistan, with additional supplies set to reach Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia as part of the program’s pilot phase. This year alone, 5,000 children across at least 30 hospitals in these six nations are expected to benefit.
“Countries in the pilot phase will receive an uninterrupted supply of quality-assured childhood cancer medicines at no cost,” the UN health agency stated.
Bridging the Survival Gap
Survival rates for childhood cancer vary significantly across the globe. In high-income countries, around 80% of children diagnosed with cancer survive. However, in low- and middle-income countries, survival rates often fall below 30% due to lack of access to appropriate treatment, disruptions in care, and low-quality medicines, WHO data reveals.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying, “For too long, children with cancer have lacked access to life-saving medicines.”
A Long-Term Vision for Global Impact
The WHO has invited six more countries to join the program and plans to expand it to 50 nations within the next five to seven years, providing medications to an estimated 120,000 children.
With approximately 400,000 children diagnosed with cancer annually worldwide, the initiative seeks to reduce mortality rates and ensure uninterrupted access to essential medicines for children in need.
Backed by $200 Million in Funding
The initiative, first announced in December 2021, is a joint effort between the WHO and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. St. Jude, a leading non-profit in pediatric cancer treatment and research, has committed $200 million to launch the program.
The WHO confirmed that cost-free provisions will continue beyond the pilot phase, with efforts underway to develop a sustainable model for long-term implementation.
Hashtags:
#GlobalHealth #ChildhoodCancer #WHO #FreeCancerDrugs #MedicalAccess #HealthcareEquality
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