Abstract oral session 2014 World Cancer Congress

Engaging policy makers, civil society and youth for prevention and control of cancer and other NCDs in India (#327)

Abhinav Bassi 1 , Radhika Shrivastav 1 , Nikunj Sharma 1 , Tina Rawal 1 , Monika Arora 1 2
  1. HRIDAY, New Delhi, DELHI, India
  2. Public Health Foundation of India, New Delhi, Delhi, India

Background:

NCDs including cancer are major public health problem in India. Cancer accounted for 6% of all deaths in India in 20081. India is the first country to adapt the Global Monitoring NCD Framework to the national context and its national plan outlines 10 targets to reduce premature NCDs mortality. Effective multi-sectoral engagement at government and non-government platforms and fostering political-will is essential to create policy environment for operationalization of strategies under the plan. HRIDAY under a grant from the American Cancer Society undertook a two years project to encourage national-level actions to make cancer and other NCDs a global priority.

Aim:

Engaging policymakers, civil society and youth for NCD prevention and control in India through evidence-based advocacy and strategic partnerships

Strategies:

Multi-sectoral consultation produced recommendations for incorporating NCDs into India’s development plans;

Students’ Parliament on Health-1,000 school students discussed policy interventions to address risk factors of cancer and other NCDs; Exhibition for Parliamentarians and policymakers where youth urged Parliamentarians to set clear, time-bound national targets; Cancer survivors took lead in steering collaborative advocacy campaigns with policymakers and the media; Signature campaign with nearly 30,000 schools and colleges youth; Media sensitization through media briefs; Engagement of youth on social-media platforms.

Promoting effective Government-NGO partnership - Consultation to identify civil society’s role in progressing towards the targets; advocating with new government-disseminating policy briefs 

Policy Process:

Strategic advocacy with Parliamentarians and policymakers to urge them for according high priority to NCD prevention (Upstream-advocacy) with a strong component of active civil society engagement to garner public support and media mobilization (Downstream-advocacy)

Outcomes:

Project was critical in sensitizing Parliamentarians and to align and prioritize civil society interventions with government initiatives to meet national the targets. Active role of cancer survivors in policy advocacy and visible media coverage of NCD issues have been other outcomes

  1. World Health Organization; Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2010