The International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) through the organisation of the UN Permanent Missions of Chile, Italy, Panama and Spain has secured a side event at the 68th World Health Assembly (WHA) to focus on ensuring access for children through the implementation of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Resolution on Palliative Care.
The side event, open to all those attending the WHA, will take place in Room 23 at the Palais des Nations on Monday 25 May between 12h15 and 12h45 and includes speakers from around the world who are recognised leaders in the fields of children’s pain, access to pain medicines for children, and children’s palliative care.
These include Joan Marston, Chief Executive, International Children’s Palliative Care Network; Dr M. R. Rajagopal MD, Physician and Founder Chairman of Pallium India; Prof Anne-Sylvie Ramelet from the International Association for the Study of Pain; Dr Anna Garchakova, Director of the Belarusian Children’s Hospice and Mrs Silvia Lefebvre D’Ovidio, Chairperson of the Maruzza Foundation.
Introductory remarks will be provided by Dr Marie Paule Kieny, ADG Health Systems and Innovation and Dr Oleg Chestnov, ADG Non Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, World Health Organization (WHO). A short video will be shown in which Lucy Watts, ICPCN’s first Youth Ambassador talks about the value of palliative care from the perspective of a young person living with a life-limiting condition.
Moderated by Dr Stephen Connor and Jorge Corrales, the programme for this historical event reads as follows:
- Introductory remarks from WHO: Implementing the WHA67.19 Resolution on strengthening palliative care
- The global need for children’s palliative care
- Integrating children’s palliative care into the main health system in Belarus
- Developing a national policy for children’s palliative care in Italy
- Improving access to pain medicines for children in India
- Pain in children
- Living as a young person with a life-limiting condition (Short video)
Acknowledgements will be provided by His Excellency Mr Giancarlo Soler Torrijos (Ambassador, Permanent Representative from the Republic of Panama)
Speaking from Geneva, where she is attending the World Health Assembly, ICPCN’s Chief Executive Joan Marston said, “The ICPCN would like to express our organisation’s deepest gratitude to all those who have supported and assisted us in the organisation of this historical event and would particularly like to thank the Permanent Missions of Chile, Italy, Panama and Spain for their work in securing the side event at this World Health Assembly.”
She went on to say, “Following on the heels of the WHO Resolution on palliative care, passed here last year, and the recent launch of the ICPCN Now Campaign, there has never been a more opportune time to bring the palliative care needs of the more than 20 million children worldwide who live with a life-limiting or life-threatening condition into global focus. We strongly believe that an event of this nature cannot fail to have many positive outcomes and lead to improvements in the lives of these most vulnerable of children and their families.”
The ICPCN wishes to thank and acknowledge the following foundations, Trusts and organisations for their support of the side event:
- The Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance
- The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care
- European Association for Palliative Care
- African Palliative Care Association
- The True Colours Trust
- Together for Short Lives
- Special Interest Group on Pain in Childhood
- Human Rights Watch
- The Maruzza Foundation
- Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society International
- Global Partners in Care
ehospice will cover the event and plans to provide a comprehensive report next week.
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