WORLD
Advocates Philippines
Hope In A Box: WHO and St. Jude Deliver Lifesaving Cancer Medicines To Kids In Need
FILE
For thousands of children battling cancer in low- and middle-income countries, access to medicine can mean the difference between life and death. That’s why the World Health Organization (WHO) and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have launched a game-changing initiative to provide free, uninterrupted supplies of high-quality cancer medicines to kids who need them most.
The first shipments have already landed in Mongolia and Uzbekistan, marking the start of a global effort to reach at least 5,000 children across 30 hospitals this year. Next up? Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia.
Fighting a Global Disparity
Every year, around 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer, but survival rates vary drastically based on where they live. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children beat the disease. But in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—where medicine shortages, treatment delays, and poor healthcare infrastructure are common—the survival rate drops below 30%.
“For too long, children with cancer have lacked access to life-saving medicines,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This unique partnership between WHO and St. Jude is working to provide quality-assured cancer medicines to pediatric hospitals in low- and middle-income countries.”
A Global Lifeline for Kids with Cancer
Dubbed the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, this initiative is the first of its kind. It aims to reach 50 countries over the next five to seven years, with the ultimate goal of supplying medicines to 120,000 children.
St. Jude CEO Dr. James R. Downing put it simply:
“A child’s chances of surviving cancer are largely determined by where they are born, making this one of the starkest disparities in global healthcare.”
By working with governments, pharmaceutical companies, and NGOs, the program isn’t just about handing out medicine—it’s about building sustainable healthcare systems that ensure children will continue to receive treatment long-term.
The Road Ahead
The program partners with UNICEF Supply Division and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Strategic Fund to streamline the supply chain, from selecting the right medicines to ensuring hospitals have the capacity to use them effectively.
This is just the beginning. With six more countries invited to join the initiative, and a vision to expand even further, this platform is shaping up to be the largest global effort to fight childhood cancer in LMICs.
For the children receiving these lifesaving medicines, this initiative is more than just a supply chain—it’s a lifeline filled with hope.
The first shipments have already landed in Mongolia and Uzbekistan, marking the start of a global effort to reach at least 5,000 children across 30 hospitals this year. Next up? Ecuador, Jordan, Nepal, and Zambia.
Fighting a Global Disparity
Every year, around 400,000 children worldwide are diagnosed with cancer, but survival rates vary drastically based on where they live. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children beat the disease. But in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—where medicine shortages, treatment delays, and poor healthcare infrastructure are common—the survival rate drops below 30%.
“For too long, children with cancer have lacked access to life-saving medicines,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This unique partnership between WHO and St. Jude is working to provide quality-assured cancer medicines to pediatric hospitals in low- and middle-income countries.”
A Global Lifeline for Kids with Cancer
Dubbed the Global Platform for Access to Childhood Cancer Medicines, this initiative is the first of its kind. It aims to reach 50 countries over the next five to seven years, with the ultimate goal of supplying medicines to 120,000 children.
St. Jude CEO Dr. James R. Downing put it simply:
“A child’s chances of surviving cancer are largely determined by where they are born, making this one of the starkest disparities in global healthcare.”
By working with governments, pharmaceutical companies, and NGOs, the program isn’t just about handing out medicine—it’s about building sustainable healthcare systems that ensure children will continue to receive treatment long-term.
The Road Ahead
The program partners with UNICEF Supply Division and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) Strategic Fund to streamline the supply chain, from selecting the right medicines to ensuring hospitals have the capacity to use them effectively.
This is just the beginning. With six more countries invited to join the initiative, and a vision to expand even further, this platform is shaping up to be the largest global effort to fight childhood cancer in LMICs.
For the children receiving these lifesaving medicines, this initiative is more than just a supply chain—it’s a lifeline filled with hope.
Feb 12, 2025
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