Quito, February 17, 2025 - "These new medicines give us hope," said Sonia, mother of Saida, a little girl who inspires many with her strength and who, thanks to the Global Platform for Access to Medicines for Childhood Cancer, will have a new opportunity through the treatment she is receiving at the Baca Ortiz Pediatric Hospital (Quito).
Like her, dozens of children and adolescents will have access to quality medicine at no cost, thanks to the Global Initiative against Childhood Cancer led by the World Health Organization (WHO), with the support of its strategic partner St. Jude, the technical support of the Pan American Organization in Ecuador and the implementation of the Ministry of Public Health.
Ecuador, the only country in the region to join the Global Platform, will receive 35 medicines in different scheduled deliveries. The first batch arrived on February 14.
Sonia Quezada, PAHO representative in Ecuador, highlighted the joint effort of the Ministry of Public Health, WHO, St Jude, and the PAHO country office, which also opens the way for other countries to achieve alliances of this magnitude in an unprecedented way in the region.
"These common and coordinated efforts involve not only the delivery of medicines but also the prioritization of care, the identification of territories with the greatest inequality, strengthening early detection and timely referral of childhood cancer; to provide new opportunities to children and adolescents, and their families," added the Representative.
For his part, Toby Kasper, vice president of Regional Programs for St. Jude Global, also highlighted the teamwork and indicated that it is nice to see that joint efforts make possible goals such as access to the best medication available.
The First Lady, Lavinia Valbonesi, said that the delivery of these medications gives each boy and girl the opportunity they deserve to play and imagine a future full of possibilities.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, the international donation amounts to USD 2,064,190.94. It consists of solid parenteral ifosfamide 500 milligrams, dactinomycin 0.5 milligrams, and trans-retinoic acid 10 milligrams, which will be used to treat Wilms tumor, sarcomas, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia.
The essential medicines will be distributed to four other hospitals: Eugenio Espejo Specialties (Quito), Francisco Icaza Bustamante (Guayaquil), Abel Gilbert Pontón Specialties (Guayaquil), and Portoviejo Hospital.
The Global Platform for Access to Medicines for Childhood Cancer has been in effect from April 8, 2024, until December 31, 2027, with the possibility of renewing the agreement between the parties.
The Global Access Platform for Childhood Cancer Medicines was announced on December 13, 2021, by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (St. Jude) and WHO, with the goal of finding a global solution for free access to cancer medicines worldwide.
