Second Global NCD Alliance Forum to be co-hosted by NCDA and FoCP in Sharjah, UAE from 9th - 11th December 2017.

19th September 2016, New York - NCD Alliance yesterday evening announced that the second Global NCD Alliance Forum will take place on 9-11 December 2017 in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Forum will be held under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, and Founder and Patron of Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), and co-hosted by NCD Alliance and Friends of Cancer Patients in Sharjah, UAE.

The announcement was made at a high-level dinner which took place on the side lines of the 71st UN General Assembly in New York, entitled “Looking Ahead to 2018: Continued Momentum on NCDs to Drive Progress”.

“Non-communicable diseases – such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases - are responsible for 68% of deaths globally. They cause enormous economic challenges for people, their families and societies, and undermine economic productivity of countries”, said Her Excelleny Ameera Abdelrahim Binkaram, President of the Board of Directors, Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP). “Compelled by the slow and uneven progress on NCDs at national and regional levels, the Sharjah government is committed to championing this important health and development issue. As in 2015, the Emirate of Sharjah is pleased to welcome NCD civil society from around the world in 2017 to progress this agenda."

The first Global NCD Alliance Forum took place in November 2015 in Sharjah, convening NCD civil society from across the world for the first time, resulting in increased knowledge and advocacy skills, new networks and connections, as well as the landmark Sharjah Declaration on NCDs. Mr José Luis Castro, Chair of NCD Alliance said, “Given the success of the 2015 Forum and the need for continued strengthening of national and regional action on NCDs, NCD Alliance has embedded capacity development in its Strategic Plan 2016-2020.”

The 2015 Forum brought together NCD civil society at a pivotal moment - two months after world leaders adopted the UN Sustainable Development Goals. “The timing of the next Forum will be equally important”, said Johanna Ralston, CEO of World Heart Federation and Vice-Chair of NCD Alliance. “The Forum will provide an opportunity to mobilise the NCD community ahead of the 2018 UN High Level Review on NCDs. We will unite around priorities for this next important global milestone, and strategise to ensure we achieve meaningful outcomes for NCD prevention and control." 

Katie Dain, Executive Director of NCD Alliance said, “It is our belief that a vibrant and strong NCD civil society movement capable of delivering its four primary roles - awareness, advocacy, accountability, and improving access to essential services - is essential to accelerate sustained progress on NCDs. The 2017 Forum provides us with the necessary platform to focus and equip the NCD civil society movement to deliver on its main roles and apply pressure to meet ambitious global targets and deliver national progress.”

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For more information about the Forum please contact NCD Alliance

About NCD Alliance 

NCD Alliance unites over 2,000 civil society organisations from 170 countries by a vision of a future free from preventable suffering and death caused by NCDs. NCD Alliance is widely recognised as a convenor of the NCD civil society community, providing thought leadership on global policy, setting priorities for the global NCD response, and mobilising civil society action at national and regional levels. It is, therefore, uniquely positioned to convene the Global Forum. 

About Friends of Cancer Patients 

Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP) is a charitable, volunteer-based foundation that provides cancer related information and support, engages in prevention and early detection programmes and provides referrals for treatment and care. FoCP has led national campaigns around World Cancer Day since 2008 and is very active in promoting awareness about cancer in the UAE and the region more broadly. FoCP UAE website