From Our President - ECO on the Global Stage

 

A few days ago, I was in New York as the United Nations convened heads of state and government, civil society, academia, philanthropies, and key private-sector organisations to review progress and commit to accelerating action on non-communicable diseases (NCDs).  At least that was the plan.

NCDs are commonly grouped into four principal categories: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes. They also encompass a wide range of other conditions, from neurological disorders and kidney disease to oral disease and mental health conditions.

Last week’s meeting was the fourth such UN gathering since 2011, and the first to feature ‘mental health’ in the title. This year, it was called ‘the UN High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being’.

As someone who has devoted his professional life to addressing mental health among cancer patients and survivors, it was especially gratifying to see the new title – the result of effective advocacy. Back in May, while in the United States, we worked with industry and other NGOs to put a greater emphasis on this issue. 

It signals to our cancer community that we hear you and care about your well-being, in all its dimensions: physical, social and psychological.

Labels may seem trivial, but they often anchor ambitious initiatives. When the European Commission launched Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and made ‘survivorship’ one of its pillars, a range of survivorship projects quickly followed.

On Thursday, after months of detailed negotiations among member states, the scene was set. The leaders present at the UN would vote on a new, more ambitious political declaration to tackle non-communicable diseases. Then, it happened. Just before the vote, the United States, backed by Argentina, announced it would block any consensus.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. lashed out at the United Nations for its ‘misdirected’ approach, which he said, ‘attempts both too little and too much’. 

The political declaration ignores the ‘proper issues’ while pushing ‘destructive gender ideology’, Mr Kennedy claimed, without offering an explanation. Some people suggested he was referring to the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, which seek to achieve ‘gender equality and empower all women and girls’.

When Mr Kennedy concluded his speech, he received more than a smattering of applause from the delegates.

‘While I understand there remain objections by member states, there’s also broad support for the text. The document will be considered by member states in the General Assembly,’  said Annalena Baerbock, ex-German Foreign Minister and President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) told delegates as she adjourned the meeting.

At ECO, we have faced our own share of disappointments over the years. But we’ve learned a valuable lesson along the way: we never give up. And, surprisingly, overcoming the odds, we have notched some surprising victories. That is our hope now for the new, much needed UN Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases.

With very best wishes,
Csaba
Prof. Csaba Dégi