Overview:
International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is a global collaborative campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer, and to express support for children and adolescents with cancer, survivors and their families.
Objectives:
Raising awareness of the basic rights of all children with cancer, which include:
- The right to an early and correct diagnosis.
- Access to essential life-saving medicines.
- Access to adequate and quality medical treatment.
- Access to follow up care, services, and sustainable living opportunities for survivors.
The goal of the WHO Childhood Cancer Initiative is to eliminate all pain and suffering of children fighting cancer, and to achieve at least 60% survival for all children with cancer worldwide by 2030. This represents an approximate doubling of the current cure rate and will save an additional one million children's lives over the next decade.
Facts:
Every year more than 400,000 children and adolescents below 20 are diagnosed with cancer, and the survival rate depends on the region, with 80% survival in highest income countries, but as low as only 20% in low- and medium-income countries.
Official Date:
Globally: February 15th, 2023
Locally: Rajab 24th, 1444H