Partnering to implement the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer in the Americas: prioritizing systems strengthening

Abstract

Working with PAHO/WHO to prioritize childhood cancer in the context of systems strengthening is central to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH)’s role as WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer. This manuscript focuses on how SJCRH and PAHO/WHO have partnered to apply C5 (Country Collaboration for Childhood Cancer Control) to define and implement priority actions regionally, strengthening Ministry programs for childhood cancer, while implementing the Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer since 2018. Using C5, a tool developed by SJCRH, PAHO/WHO and SJCRH co-hosted regional/national workshops engaging authorities, clinicians and other stakeholders across 10 countries to map health systems needs and prioritize strategic activities (spanning Central America, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Brazil and Uruguay). SJCRH provided English/Spanish/Portuguese C5 versions/templates for analysis/prioritization exercises, and worked with PAHO/WHO and country teams to implement C5, analyze findings, and develop outputs. In an eight-country regional workshop, countries defined priorities within national/regional initiatives and ranked their value and political will, incorporating country-specific surveys and stakeholder dialogues. Each country prioritized one strategic activity for 2022-2023, exchanged insights via storytelling, and disseminated and applied results to inform country-specific and regional action plans. National workshops analyses have been incorporated into cancer control planning activities and collaborative work regionally. Implementation success factors include engaging actors beyond the clinic, enabling flexibility, and focusing on co-design with stakeholders. Joint implementation of C5 catalyzed prioritization and accelerated strategic activities to improve policies, capacity, and quality of care for children in the Americas, supporting Ministries to integrate childhood cancer interventions as part of systems strengthening.

Regional collaboration for the development of national childhood cancer plans in Latin America and the Caribbean

“…To work on action plan development, between 2019 and 2022 St. Jude and PAHO offered methodological and/or financial support to execute 13 workshops. During these activities, teams evaluated the results from their chosen situation analysis tool using the Health Systems Plus framework adapted for children with cancer ( 6 ). Together, national stakeholders would agree on priorities and interventions.…”

“…Moreover, supporting countries to integrate childhood cancer in NCCPs is one of the engagements of St. Jude as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Childhood Cancer ( 5 ). Core activities in the appointment – which began in 2018 and was extended in 2022 – include supporting WHO to 1) integrate childhood cancer in NCCPs through tools or frameworks for prioritization, costing, and monitoring and evaluation; 2) develop tools and platforms for innovation and diffusion in childhood cancer management, research, and education; and 3) strengthen childhood cancer control through technical support, training, and stakeholder engagement ( 6 ). The work with international partners also added to national advocacy efforts and provided access to additional resources such as funding, tools, and technical expertise to write the plans.…”

Evaluation of Pathway to Diagnosis of Pediatric Brain Tumors in Tamil Nadu, India

“…This is also in alignment with the World Health Organization's Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. 21 …”

Abordare multidisciplinară în oncologia pediatrică

“…Conform OMS în fiecare an, aproximativ 400.000 de copii ș iadolescenți cu vârsta între 0 și 19 ani dezvoltă cancer. Cele mai frecvente tipuri de cancer la copil include leucemiile, cancerele cerebrale, limfoamele și tumorile solide, cum ar fi neuroblastomul și tumorile Wilms [1,2,3]. În 2019 la nivel global au existat 291,3 mii de cazuri noi și 98,8 mii de decese de cancer infantil la nivel mondial, cu o prevalență de 1,8 milioane [4].…”

“…Decisions and interventions will be in accordance with the decision of the multidisciplinary committee of therapeutic indications.According to the WHO, every year approximately 400,000 children and adolescents between the ages of 0 and 19 develop cancer. The most common childhood cancers include leukemias, brain cancers, lymphomas, and solid tumors such as neuroblastoma and Wilms tumors [1,2,3]. In 2019 globally there were 291.3 thousand new cases and 98.8 thousand deaths from childhood cancer worldwide, with a prevalence of 1.8 million [4].…”