SHARJAH: H.H. Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Royal Patron of the Friends of Cancer Patients, FoCP, and International Ambassador for the World Cancer Declaration of the Union for International Cancer Control, UICC, and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC, yesterday launched the Sharjah Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases.
The declaration has been approved by more than 230 health specialist and experts participating in the first global Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs, Alliance Forum. The declarations included the most important recommendations that came out of the forum, which will be applied to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Under the declaration, national and regional NCD alliances from across the world have joined forces to commit to accelerate action and increase accountability to prevent and reduce deaths, disability, stigma, and discrimination caused by NCDs. Alliances have committed to grow in strength and number, reinforce partnerships with governments and amplify voices of those affected by NCDs. The declaration also seeks to mobilise domestic, bilateral and multilateral resources for NCDs, monitor process and mechanisms and hold relevant bodies to account.
In her speech during the closing session, Sheikha Jawaher said, “My efforts towards combating non-communicable diseases around the world is an obligation and a humanitarian duty to help these elite experts and specialists, who, thanks to their brilliant intellect, experiences and joint work, make a clear difference in the implications of non-communicable diseases on the peoples of the world, specifically in low-and middle-income countries.”
Dr. Jose Luis Castro, Executive Director, International Union Against TB and Lung Disease, Chair of NCD Alliance, France, presented The Sharjah Declaration, saying, “This Declaration is a roadmap for advocacy for national and regional NCD alliances around the world. It calls on governments, the United Nations and the private sector to do all that they can and must for NCD prevention and control. Because no one sector alone will reverse the NCD epidemic. It is a strong statement of intent to unite and work together as a network of alliances, to join forces and advocate for change together, and to track government progress together. Together, we are stronger.”
Sir George Alleyne, Director Emeritus, Chair of the NCD Alliance Expert Advisory Council, thanked all the attendees for coming, and said, “At some point, bringing all NCD Alliances together in this way was just a dream. Making this dream a reality took leadership and commitment and this was provided by Sheikh Jawaher. Her patronage of this event and commitment to the control of NCDs has been an inspiration that made this dream a reality.”
Katie Dain, Executive Director, NCD Alliance UK, said, “The Sharjah Declaration, which we formally adopted in the closing session, will provide the basis for the advocacy planning exercise. No one sector alone will reverse the NCD epidemic, but working together we have the tremendous opportunity to chart a new course toward health and sustainable human development for a more equitable and healthier future for all.”