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Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo

Jun 1, 2025, 10:26

Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on NCDs and Mental Health Conditions

Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, EVP and Chair, Department of Global Pediatric Medicine at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Recently, I had the honor of speaking at a side event during the World Health Assembly on “Equity and Integration: Transforming Lives and Livelihoods through Leadership and Action on NCDs and Mental Health Conditions.”

I spoke on behalf of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where our mission is singular and urgent: to save the lives of children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases—no matter where they live.

Each year, over 90% of children who develop cancer are in low- and middle-income countries. Yet only half are ever diagnosed. Even fewer receive treatment.

The heartbreaking reality is that most of these children die. This is not acceptable. All children deserve the same chance at life.

Through St Jude Global, and in partnership with WHO and institutions around the world, we are working to change this. Together, we’ve launched initiatives to build local capacity, improve care, close workforce gaps, and secure access to essential medicines—like the Global Initiative on Childhood Cancer and the Global Platform for Childhood Cancer Medicines, supported by a $200M investment from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

But our work is far from done.

Children with catastrophic conditions continue to be absent from the global NCD agenda. Their exclusion from the zero draft of the Political Declaration for the 4thHLM on NCDs will only deepen inequities.

As we talk about integration, I urge us all to ensure that the world’s children are not left behind. Only by including them in our shared NCD and mental health efforts can we achieve true transformation—of systems, lives, and futures.

Let’s move from vision to action. Together.

Thank you to all our collaborators who continue to fight for children everywhere with us. It is because of partners like you that we will achieve our goal of reducing the effects of childhood catastrophic diseases on children everywhere regardless of national origin.”

Rodriguez-Galindo addressed a side event at the World Health Assembly, stressing the need for equitable global action on childhood cancer and inclusion in NCD strategies. He highlighted St. Jude’s global initiatives and urged integration of children’s needs in health policy.

More posts featuring Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo.

cancer Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo Childhood Cancer fight against cancer Global fight against cancer Mental Health Conditions NCDs OncoDaily Oncology St. Jude Children's Research Hospital WHO World Health Assembly.

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