Sharjah Declaration on NCDs for Children passed

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Delegates from several countries to the landmark “Global Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Forum on Children and Youth” on Tuesday afternoon in Sharjah passed what is now known as the “Sharjah Declaration on Global NCDs for Children and Youth Forum.”

The declaration was presented to Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher Bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, and Founder and Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) at the closing ceremonies held at the Al Jawaher Reception and Convention Centre by FoCP-Board of Directors chairperson Sawsan Jafar and NCD Child chairperson Dr Mychelle Farmer.

The two-day conference complete with lectures and workshops were co-organised by Sharjah-based FoCP and international coalition NCD Child.

The declaration stipulates the following points, as determined and approved by the delegates:

* Recognition of the deep lasting impact of NCDs on family health and well-being;

* Acknowledgment of the positive change that starts with care for families and communities that extends to the health centres;

* Recognition of young leaders as essential partners for the prevention and control of NCDs and ensuring their participation in the global NCD advocacy and policy campaigns, consultations and coalitions;

* Innovation and promotion of proven evidence-based developments to address all NCDs including childhood cancers, palliative care and pain relief, and vaccines capable of preventing cancer;

* Commitment to the life course approach to NCDs and the organization of life-long primary care for NCDs through universal health coverage;

* The active promotion of family health literacy to improve understanding about NCDs prevention and control taking into consideration cultural and social contexts;

* The empowerment of all including children with Non-Communicable Diseases  to share their health stories and lived experiences, to strengthen advocacy and to guide stakeholders for lasting improvements in family health and well-being.

The delegates coming from the health sector and which also includes representatives from the youth, education, local to international bodies as well as government and non-government organisations, and private individuals pledged that they would work for this document to be known and worked on in their respective localities and up to the highest leaderships of their countries with the end in view of “effective legislative changes” through clear policy decision-making procedures.

In her speech, Sheikha Jawaher emphasized the importance of the first-ever international gathering tackling NCDs for CNCDs that she claimed would “accelerate Sharjah’s efforts to find solutions for the rising incidences of NCDs in children and youth.

She said Sharjah is developing itself as a future stronghold where everybody around the world will find the best treatment for their children suffering from NCDs.

Jafar expressed her gratitude for the inputs of the delegates terming the declaration as “brilliant.”

“This sets out action follow-ups for us all to act upon. This makes our alliance even stronger and our determination to achieve our common goals even more (unwavering).”

Farmer said: “Our declaration will focus on family health and well-being to recognize the deep and dark impact it leaves on families. We acknowledge positive change that begins from families that is carried through the communities, young leaders who are recognized as essential partners for NCDs’ prevention, control and management.”

She said each one and all industries are all stakeholders to and have the responsibility to do their part in finding solutions to Non-Communicable Diseases and help children with Non-Communicable Diseases.