International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) is annually observed across the globe on 15 February to raise awareness about childhood cancer and its unique challenges, and to express support for children and adolescents battling cancer, the cancer survivors, and their families.
Campaign theme:
The 3-year campaign of ICCD (2024-2026) aims to raise awareness on the regional level about the unique challenges and inequalities faced by childhood cancer patients, caregivers, survivors, and healthcare professionals worldwide.
The campaign theme of ICCD 2024 is “Unveiling Challenges.”
- The campaign theme of ICCD 2025 is “Inspiring Action.”
- The campaign theme of ICCD 2026 is “Demonstrating Impact.”
Symbol:
The Gold Ribbon is the universal awareness symbol of Childhood Cancer.
- It is a symbol of all forms of cancer affecting children and adolescents.
Background:
i.ICCD, an annual event was created in 2002 by Childhood Cancer International (CCI), an umbrella organisation of childhood cancer grassroots and national parent organisations.
ii.ICCD campaign is a joint effort by CCI and the International Society of Pediatric Oncology or Société Internationale d’oncologie Pédiatrique (SIOP).
iii.The 1st ever ICCD was observed on 15 February 2002.
Points to Note:
i.CCI, originally called the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations (ICCCPO) was founded in 1994.
- It is a global network of 183 parent organizations, childhood cancer survivor associations, childhood cancer support groups, and cancer societies, in over 94 countries, across 6 continents.
ii.SIOP is a global, multifaceted organisation established on November 6, 1969.
- It is the only global multidisciplinary society devoted to pediatric and adolescent cancer.
iii.Both CCI and SIOP are Non-State Actors in official relations with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
- They are contributing to the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC).
3-Year Campaign of ICCD:
i.The CCI and SIOP collaboratively launched a new 3-year campaign (2024-2026) in 2024.
ii.The strength of this campaign lies in its adaptability. Every region has the liberty to customise the campaign to meet its specific needs.
WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer (GICC):
i.In 2018, WHO launched GICC, which aims to achieve at least a 60% survival rate for children with cancer by 2030.
ii.In collaboration with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, GICC is a cooperative effort involving WHO in a global, regional, and country-specific effort.
Key Facts:
i.Cancer is one of the leading causes of death among children and adolescents worldwide. According to WHO, over 1000 children globally are diagnosed with cancer every day.
ii.In 2022, over 70% of children with cancer diagnoses died in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.
iii.High-income countries boast an 80% survival rate, while some low-middle-income countries (LMICs) lag at 20%.
iv.Over 400,000 children globally develop cancer each year, and only half of them are ever diagnosed.
2024 Events:
On 13 February 2024, the European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) in cooperation with Childhood Cancer International Europe (CCI-E) organised the 2024 edition of the annual ICCD event at the European Parliament in Brussels, Belgium.
About Childhood Cancer International (CCI):
President– Rodney Wong
Headquarters– Amsterdam, Netherlands
Founded in– 1994
