The 'Sharjah Declaration' on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been launched by Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of 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.

 

It was approved by more than 230 health specialist and experts participating in the first global NCDs Alliance Forum. 

 

The declarations included the most important recommendations that came out of the forum, which will be applied to to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

 

The first global NCDs Alliance Forum concluded recently with The Sharjah Declaration being presented to Sheikha Jawaher Al Qasimi. 

 

The forum brought together 51 speakers from 45 countries and 173 advocacy organisations forming 43 national and regional NCD Alliances.

 

Under the declaration, national and regional NCDs 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. 

 

The 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 of experts and specialists, who thanks to their brilliant intellect, experiences and joint work, make a clear difference in the implications of NCDs on the peoples of the world, specifically in low- and middle-income countries."

 

She called upon all the participants to continue to work hard and communicate after the conclusion of the forum, which must serve as a permanent venue, to follow up on the developments and ensure the implementation of the Sharjah Declaration. 

 

The Sharjah declaration as a gift of 230 global experts to the peoples across the entire globe, Sheikha Jawaher also called for holding the second edition of the global forum on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Sharjah in 2017, she added. - TradeArabia News Service