United Nations Political Declaration Research Articles

Engagement of private healthcare sector in addressing noncommunicable diseases at primary care level in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

The private healthcare sector is a critical stakeholder in the provision of health care services, including noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and engagement with the sector is increasingly being advocated in efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage. This study was conducted to explore the role of the private health sector in delivering NCD-related primary care services in selected countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR): Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan, and the Syrian Arab Republic. We adapted the analytical framework for this study from the "Framework for action to implement the United Nations political declaration on noncommunicable diseases". We conducted a desk review to gather evidence, identify gaps and provide direction for the subsequent stakeholder interviews. Key informant interview respondents were selected using the snowball sampling method. Data from the interviews were analysed using MAXQDA, version 2020. We reviewed 26 documents and interviewed 19 stakeholders in Jordan, Oman, Pakistan, Sudan and the Syrian Arab Republic. Our results indicated increasing advocacy at the regional and national levels to align the private and public health sectors, just as there were efforts to reduce the risk factors for NCDs by implementing tobacco laws, introducing food labelling guidelines, increasing taxes on soft drinks, and promoting the healthy cities approach. NCDs health information systems varied widely among the countries, from being organized and developed to having poor recordkeeping. The private health sector is the predominant provider of care at primary level in most of the EMR countries. Increased collaboration between the public and private sectors is essential for better management of NCDs in the EMR. Governments need to strengthen regulation and defragment the private health sector and harness the sector's strengths as part of efforts to achieve national health targets, NCD goals and Universal Health Coverage.

Beyond the discourses of policy and power: HIV, AIDS, and community perspectives on the lived pandemic

As HIV unfolded in the 1980s, HIV and AIDS were heard and seen through the lives of those whom it touched directly. Personal histories were foregrounded, centred by the inevitable mortality attached to HIV infection, the courage of circumstance in the face of illness, and the activism necessary to make a difference. In the later part of the decade, the impacts of HIV were most apparent in East Africa, where community responses and political leadership coalesced to reduce new HIV infections. The 1990s marked a turn towards centralised policy, funding, and the reification of biomedically oriented approaches and systems that are intrinsically top-down. This biomedical turn centred on foregrounding the widespread availability of low-cost antiretroviral therapy and was articulated in the 90-90-90 and subsequent targets. Biomedicalisation reinforces individualised approaches to health primarily focused on biomedical technologies and health service provision that do not rely on community or social organisation formats. Emphasis on HIV treatment, along with the promise of reduced HIV transmission through viral load suppression, contributed to limiting socio-behavioural approaches to HIV prevention. While the importance of community-led response was highlighted in the 2016 United Nations Political Declaration on Ending AIDS, community-led response has devolved towards concepts such as community-led monitoring and community-led response that frame responses in direct relation to the dominant biomedical paradigm. There are lessons in the history of the AIDS response that demonstrate that communities formulate responses to AIDS differently when there have been opportunities for community members to determine the pathways for action to address HIV independently. Older research studies offer retrospective insights into moments in the history of HIV when communities were foregrounded and highlighted the need to reconsider the current trajectory of the HIV response. Not only for history’s sake but to acknowledge that community leadership remains overwhelmed by elites. While lofty targets and goals drive the contemporary HIV response, the way forward is mired by uncertainty. HIV prevention efforts remain uneven, and millions of people living with HIV depend on access to treatment for decades to come in the context of budgetary uncertainties. Changing the course of AIDS will not be achieved if we fail to ensure that communities occupy a genuine and unambiguous place in shaping HIV response.

Shaping Global Health Law through United Nations Governance: The UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

The United Nations (UN) General Assembly High-Level Meeting (HLM) on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response (PPPR) was a missed opportunity to bring high-level commitment and momentum to the global governance of health emergencies. Intended to bring much-needed attention to a policy issue that is rapidly slipping down the international agenda, the fraught diplomacy among member states, lack of consensus on key issues, and weak UN Political Declaration in New York foreshadow a difficult road ahead for upcoming negotiations under the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva. This column chronicles the evolving engagement of the UN in global health governance, examines the diplomatic process leading to the UN HLM on PPPR, and assesses the contributions and missed opportunities of its resulting Political Declaration.

Progress towards 2020 global HIV impact and treatment targets.

IntroductionOver the past 20 years, the response to the HIV epidemic has achieved remarkable results. These results have often been motivated by targets adopted by countries through United Nations (UN) Political Declarations on HIV. The 2016 political declaration included two impact targets, to achieve a 75% decline in new HIV infections and AIDS‐related deaths between 2010 and 2020, and to reach the 90‐90‐90 testing and treatment targets by 2020. Our objective is to summarize progress towards these targets using robust and comparable HIV estimates released by UNAIDS in July 2021. In addition, we comment on the importance of targets and the modelled estimates required to quantify those targets.DiscussionThe UNAIDS estimates indicate that at the global and regional levels, the 2020 targets were missed: new infections declined by 31% and AIDS‐related deaths declined by 47% between 2010 and 2020, compared to a target of 75% decline for both indicators. Similarly, no region achieved the 90‐90‐90 testing and treatment targets. Some countries, in diverse settings, achieved these targets showing that the targets were not overly ambitious if the right funding, policies and evidence‐informed interventions at the right scale were in place. The 2021 UN Political Declaration on HIV, adopted on 8 June 2021, has set out a new set of ambitious but achievable targets for 2025. The 2025 targets and the required actions to reach those targets are described in the Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026, which provides a framework to reprioritize HIV responses by reducing inequalities and building on the achievements of multiple Sustainable Development Goals. The Strategy encourages countries to monitor progress against targets for different geographic areas and populations to maximize equitable services and ensure accountability and also to understand why targets are being missed.ConclusionsThe UNAIDS epidemiological estimates provide information that promote accountability and estimate progress towards global targets at the national level. Additional strategic information and analyses are required to identify the populations that are furthest from the targets and the programmes and policies that are keeping countries from meeting their targets.

Thailand's national strategic plan on antimicrobial resistance: progress and challenges.

Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat that affects all countries. The Global Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance and the United Nations Political Declaration on antimicrobial resistance set standards for countries to resolve antimicrobial resistance challenges under the One Health approach. We assess progress and challenges in implementing Thailand’s national strategic plan on antimicrobial resistance 2017–2022, discuss interim outcomes and share lessons learnt. Major progress includes: establishing a national governance mechanism that leads high-impact policy on antimicrobial resistance and consolidates actions and multisectoral collaboration; creating a monitoring system and platform to track implementation of the strategic plan; and converting strategies of the strategic plan into actions such as controlling the distribution and use of antimicrobials in humans and animals. Interim results indicate that antimicrobial consumption in animals has nearly halved (exceeding the national goal of a 30% reduction) whereas other goals have not yet reached their targets. We have learnt that elevating antimicrobial resistance to high-level visibility and establishing a national governance mechanism is an important first step, and a monitoring and evaluation system should be developed in parallel with implementation. Securing funds is crucial. Policy coherence is needed to avoid duplication of actions. Highly ambitious goals, although yet to be achieved, can advance actions beyond expectations. Political commitment and collaboration across different sectors will continue to play important roles but might not be sustained without a well-designed governance structure to support long-term actions to address antimicrobial resistance.

Port of Spain Summit Declaration as a successful outcome of global health diplomacy in the Caribbean region: a systematic review.

Background: The Caribbean region, with a population of around 17 million, has the highest burden of chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the region of the Americas. It is estimated that diabetes and hypertension has an economic impact of around 5%-8% of the gross domestic product of the region. The purpose of this study was to explore and understand how global health diplomacy contributed to the evolution of a collective Caribbean regional summit declaration to address the epidemic of NCDs. Methods: A systematic review was conducted, and all the major databases such as MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO, Global Health database and other available policy documents from various sources were screened. All articles available from 1910-2018were extracted. From the total of 3223 titles, after filtering, the search narrowed down to 28full texts that are included in this study. Policy documents and articles related to NCDs, global health diplomacy, and the Port of Spain Declaration (POSD) were the focused themes. Results: The Caribbean region showed significant commitment to the prevention and control of NCDs through its united voice and commitment since 2001. The successful rounds of negotiations for regional health have led to the formulation of the 15- point multisectoral POSD "Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs." This was the first Summit in the world where the Heads of Government focused on prevention and control of NCDs with a clear road map for policy implementation, collaboration, and collective action. This regional summit declaration gained global attention and resulted in the United Nations Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and as WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020. Conclusion: There is enormous scope for this evolving area of Global Health Diplomacy in addressing the future challenges of health security.

The inheritance of cardiovascular disease risk.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is foremost among the non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which account for 71% of deaths globally each year. CVD is also prominent among the pre-existing conditions still accounting for nearly 25% of maternal deaths and is linked to gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Markers of CVD risk have been reported even in young children, related to prenatal factors such as mother's diet or body composition. The underlying mechanisms include epigenetic changes which can alter the trajectory of risk across the life course. Preventive interventions need to commence before conception, to reduce transmission of CVD risk by promoting healthy behaviours in prospective parents, as well as in pregnancy, and postpartum through breastfeeding and healthy complementary feeding. Surprisingly, these opportunities are not emphasised in the 2018 United Nations Political Declaration on NCDs. NCDs such as CVD have communicable risk components transmitted across generations by socio-economic as well as biological factors, although the former can also become embodied in the offspring by epigenetic mechanisms. The inheritance of CVD risk, and social inequalities in such risk, thus raises wider questions about responsibility for the health of future generations at societal as well as individual levels.

Stage of obesity epidemic model: Learning from tobacco control and advocacy for a framework convention on obesity control.

The 2011 United Nations political declaration against non-communicable diseases (NCDs) targeted four major risk factors: tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, an unhealthy diet, and a lack of physical activity. The Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), MPOWER strategies, and the four-stage model of the tobacco epidemic are useful references for the prevention and control of other risk factors and NCDs. Obesity control is a more complex challenge. Herein we propose a stage of obesity epidemic model (SOEM). Obesity is in the early stages in most countries with increasing prevalence, but its effects on mortality will increase rapidly, even if its prevalence may have reached a peak and be declining. Based on current relative risk, obesity kills one in three obese people. Like tobacco, epidemiological studies of obesity in the early stages would underestimate the risks and disease burden. Further research will reveal more harm, especially from long-term obesity since childhood. The prevalence of obesity will likely overtake smoking prevalence, but commitments to obesity control are too weak. The SOEM is needed and should be useful to forewarn against the expanding public health problems attributable to obesity, and challenges in epidemiology and interventions. Learning from tobacco control, we advocate for a framework convention on obesity control. Framing obesity control initiatives in the spirit of MPOWER strategies against tobacco should be considered to prevent and control obesity and obesity-induced diseases. Healthcare professionals should take leading roles in these initiatives and obese individuals should reduce their weight and "quit" obesity.

Tuberculosis and antimicrobial resistance – new models of research and development needed

Tuberculosis is a disease that needs more investment in research and development. More people--1.4 million in 2015--die from tuberculosis every year than from human immunodeficiency virus (1.1 million deaths; 400 000 die from combinations of these infections) and malaria (429 000 deaths). Despite a current global caseload of 580 000 people infected with drug-resistant tuberculosis, (1) current levels of investment--620 million United States dollars--in research and development are at their lowest since 2008. (2) Over the past decade, only two new drugs have been licensed; bedaquiline and delamanid. Tuberculosis cannot be cured by a single drug, but requires at least three different classes of antibiotic for treatment. Drug-resistant tuberculosis--bacilli resistant to two or more of the available antibiotics--is a persistent problem and is projected to account for 25% of deaths from all drug-resistant pathogens in the future. (3) In 2010, the World Health Organization's (WHO's) Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development was established to examine current financing and incentives for research and development and to propose new approaches addressing unmet medical needs. Delegates at this month's World Health Assembly will continue discussions to implement the recommendations from the groups 2012 report on global financing and coordination of research and development. (4) A United Nations (UN) General Assembly session on antimicrobial resistance and the UN High Level panel on Access to Medicines (5) as well as reports from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (3) and the German government (6) have all looked at new research and development models to incentivize research for drug-resistant infections. Several nongovernmental organizations, medical research councils, civil society representatives and the South African government have recently developed a new funding framework to support research and development of tuberculosis treatments--the 3P Project (pull, pool and push). This initiative (i) uses a pull incentive, by rewarding research through prizes; (ii) pools intellectual property and data; and (iii) uses push incentives through research grants. (7) The 3P project is a collaborative research initiative that aims to support the discovery and development of a one-month treatment regimen that can be used to cure all cases of tuberculosis. The project's funding model will ensure that a new regimen is affordable and accessible to all those in need. The 3P Project incentivizes researchers by providing cash prizes for compounds that meet predefined product characteristics and are ready to enter phase I clinical trials. Coupling this financial reward with an obligation to pool the compounds data and intellectual property, the 3P Project will then fund the development of treatment combinations. The project will thus de-link the costs of research and development from the final cost of the treatment and sales as defined by the UN Political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on antimicrobial resistance, (8) ensuring treatment affordability. We suggest that new models of research and development for tuberculosis, like the 3P Project, should be included in inter-governmental discussions on antimicrobial resistance priority setting. We encourage member states to support this initiative as a proactive response to address the priority pathogen for antimicrobial resistance. References (1. …

Pakistan needs to speed up its human immunodeficiency virus control strategy to achieve targets in fast-track acquired immune deficiency syndrome response.

In last fifteen years remarkable success in the fight against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is achieved globally. The number of HIV infections has decreased and the number of people on antiretroviral therapy is increased. This all is possible by strong political commitments and heavy investments in the fight against HIV. Pakistan is among few Asian countries in which HIV cases are increasing year by year since 1990. There are 94000 cases of HIV in Pakistan and only 14000 are registered with government. The main source of HIV infection in Pakistan is the use of contaminated injection equipment among people who inject drugs (PWID). The overall prevalence of HIV among PWID in Pakistan is 27.2%. There are five cities in Pakistan in which HIV prevalence is above 40% in PWIDs. In June 2016, United Nations political declaration on acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) provided a global mandate to fast-track the AIDS response over the next five years to achieve the targets in Sustainable Development Goals. To achieve the targets in fast-track AIDS response, the global leaders showed strong commitments to invest $ 26 billion per year by 2020. Pakistan needs to speed up its HIV control program. There is a dire need to locate all HIV positive people and enroll them in the treatment program. Pakistan also needs to calculate exact number of people living with HIV, increase HIV treatment centers and increase HIV awareness. Recently, Global Fund invested handsome money in the fight against HIV. Let’s hope the country will have effective HIV control strategy to achieve the HIV elimination target by 2030.

Role of precautionary measures in HIV epidemics: A mathematical assessment

United Nations Political Declaration 2011 on HIV and AIDS calls to reduce the sexual transmission and the transmission of HIV among people, who inject drugs by [Formula: see text] by 2015, through different control strategies and precautionary measures. In this paper, we propose and study a simple SI type model that considers the effect of various precautionary measures to control HIV epidemic. We show, unlike conventional epidemic models, that the basic reproduction number which essentially considered as the disease eradication condition is no longer sufficient to eliminate HIV infection. In particular, we show that even when the basic reproduction number is made less than unity, the disease may persist if the initial outbreak is not low. Eradication of disease is however guaranteed if the ensemble control measure exceeds some upper critical value. It is also shown that an epidemic model with mass action incidence may exhibit backward bifurcation and bistability if density-dependent demography is considered. Our theoretical study thus indicates that extra attention should be given in controlling HIV epidemic to achieve the desired result.

HIV and the Arab Spring

HIV and the Arab Spring

Transforming Australia’s HIV prevention and treatment efforts to achieve an AIDS-free generation: the United Nations Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS and the Melbourne Declaration ‘Action on HIV’

This paper discusses Australia's response to the 2011 United Nations Political Declaration on HIV/AIDS in the context of recent ground-breaking advances in HIV prevention and treatment. Australia's progress in responding to these developments is examined and compared with that of eight other countries in Asia and the Pacific. The implications of the 2012 Melbourne Declaration 'Action on HIV' is also discussed as a vehicle for generating advocacy to revolutionise Australia's HIV response and to urge Australia's leadership in achieving an 'AIDS-free generation'.

Moving From Political Declaration to Action on Reducing the Global Burden of Cardiovascular Diseases

September 18, 2013, marks 2 years since the monumental meeting of Heads of State at the United Nations in New York to take action against noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), which includes cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus, and chronic respiratory disease. Recognizing that the rising human and financial costs of NCDs required a profound shift in the way countries viewed development, United Nations member states gathered for the second time in history to address a health concern (the first being the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001). Supporting the United Nations Political Declaration on the Prevention and Control of NCDs, countries acknowledged NCDs as a development issue and made a commitment to address this global crisis by taking action on the major modifiable risk factors— including tobacco use, raised blood pressure, poor nutrition, physical inactivity—triggering the new pandemic of NCDs, as well as the social, economic, and political determinants that shape these lifestyle choices.1 Although the declaration was a political commitment, it was an important first step, bringing together health and development leaders from across the globe to ensure that progress would be made to reduce the burden of NCDs. The past 2 years have witnessed concrete commitments, meaning that our work is only just beginning. The World Heart Federation and its members spearheaded global advocacy, with other colleagues in the NCD community, calling on the World Health Organization and member states to commit to tangible and achievable goals.2 In 2012, a global target was adopted to reduce premature NCD mortality 25% by 2025—“25by25.”3 Now in 2013, this target, as well as 8 additional targets addressing modifiable risk factors and committing to the use of essential medicines, technologies, and drug therapies to prevent …

Rallying United Nations organizations in the fight against noncommunicable diseases

Rallying United Nations organizations in the fight against noncommunicable diseases

The United Nations Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases: are countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region ready to respond?

The United Nations Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases: are countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region ready to respond?

Integration of HIV prevention into Sexual and Reproductive Health Services in an urban setting in South Africa

BackgroundThe United Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS of 2006 stressed the need to strengthen policy and programme linkages between HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). However, the effectiveness and best practices for strengthening SRH and HIV linkages are poorly researched in the context of family-planning services. In Cape Town, HIV-prevention services have been integrated into family-planning services. There are two models of service configuration: dedicated stand-alone reproductive health clinics and family-planning services located in comprehensive primary-care facilities.ObjectiveTo describe how reproductive health services are integrating HIV prevention and care strategies and to measure the coverage and quality of these integrated services.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted using structured interviews with facility managers; a facility-based checklist; and a patient record review to assess the availability of resources, training, access, quality and integration.ResultsFacilities in Cape Town are equipped adequately to offer integrated HIV-prevention and SRH services. Overall there was poor coverage of integrated services with 54% of family-planning clients having a known HIV status; 47% being screened for a sexually transmitted infection and 55% being offered HIV counselling and testing and receiving condoms. Quality and continuity of care seemed better at the dedicated clinics than at the comprehensive facilities, supported by better training coverage.ConclusionEngaging middle-level management is crucial with regard to improving integration within a well-resourced setting.

Our Time: A Call to Save Preventable Death From Cardiovascular Disease (Heart Disease and Stroke)

Worldwide, the aging population, globalization, rapid urbanization, and population growth have fundamentally changed disease patterns. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), of which cardiovascular disease (CVD) accounts for nearly half, have overtaken communicable diseases as the world's major disease burden. CVD remains the No. 1 global cause of death, accounting for 17.3 million deaths per year, a number that is expected to grow to >23.6 million by 2030. Increasingly, the populations affected are those in low- and middle-income countries, where 80% of these deaths occur, usually at younger ages than in higher-income countries, and where the human and financial resources to address them are most limited.1 The epidemiological transition occurring is exacerbated by the lack of vital investment in sustainable health policies to address and curtail the risk factors associated with CVD and NCDs. Recognizing the profound mismatch between the need for investment in the prevention and control of CVD at the global and national level and the actual resources allocated, the international CVD community, under the umbrella of the World Heart Federation, joined the NCD community to call for a United Nations (UN) High-level Meeting on Non-communicable Diseases, held in September 2011. At this meeting, heads of state signed a Political Declaration that committed governments to the development of 4 specific measures to address the NCD burden in a specific timeline: (1) Recommendations for a global monitoring framework that included NCD targets to be completed by the end of 2012; (2) development of a plan for an effective multisector partnership by the end of 2012; (3) national NCD plans by 2013; and (4) a comprehensive review to evaluate progress, to take place in 2014.2 Celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the passage of the UN Political Declaration, it is timely that our respective organizations speak with a single voice to advocate …

A role for a global body for paediatric neurodisability

‘Prevent the preventable, treat the treatable and provide effective care’ is the essence of the United Nations Political Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases (Resolution A/RES/66/2), in which all member states undertook in 2011 to do more to tackle these conditions.1 Since then, groups representing people with cancer and diabetes have adopted the resolution to lobby for better care globally, but this has not yet happened for people with neurodisability. Instead they have been incorporated by the World Health Organization (WHO) into an even larger group, ‘mental, neurological and substance misuse disorders’, where mental health issues appear to predominate.2 This may not be in the best interest of those with neurodisability, especially children. In the meantime, there is plenty of recognized best practice. In terms of prevention, immunization programmes and prevention of accidents – brain trauma still being the most important cause of death and acquired disability in children – should continue to be the main priorities. In terms of treatment, early recognition and treatment of neonatal jaundice, or hypoglycaemia, cerebral infections, and prolonged status epilepticus at all ages, are all well known examples. However, as is made clear in the UN Resolution, there is a massive amount still to do. Best practice is not always applied even in well-resourced countries. Many children, especially in resource-poor countries, still suffer avoidable neurological damage. In terms of rehabilitation the move from dogma-based to scientifically-based approaches is to be applauded but, for example, the physiotherapy prescribed or available for a child with cerebral palsy still varies considerably in different countries. To address these issues properly and lobby more effectively in all countries a global body representing neurodisability is essential. Existing organizations could form the anchors for such a body. As delivery of health care to children, adolescents, and adults with neurodisability requires sharing of expertise amongst multiple disciplines, all should be represented, as well as patients and their families.3 Ideally it should be linked to the WHO, to use their authority when advising governments what actions are most useful. The WHO and the World Federation of Neurology have already collaborated in this way, but the result is very adult orientated.4 In addition, at present the WHO understandably only wants to advocate interventions with a high level of evidence, but given the lower levels available especially in many childhood conditions this is too narrow. The functions of such a body should include setting health priorities, advising how outcomes can best be assessed, and identifying areas needing research, which will differ between countries. As well as major unanswered questions such as how to reduce the incidence of preterm birth, with all its associated intellectual and physical risks to children, more modest and achievable aims could include ensuring that clear guidelines are agreed for common conditions and that health care personnel are trained to follow them properly – an approach that has been shown to be effective in adult conditions such as cardiac arrest. Other initiatives can be supported such as the recently launched and very user-friendly website, Treatable-ID.org, which has identified 81 potentially treatable metabolic conditions that can cause intellectual disability.5 With the impetus from the UN resolution it is now time to act.

The Role of Cancer Research in Noncommunicable Disease Control

Noncommunicable diseases were estimated to claim more than 36 million lives worldwide in 2008. Major contributors to this burden were cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. The United Nations General Assembly held a high-level meeting on noncommunicable diseases in September 2011 for heads of states and governments, conscious of the projected increases in disease incidence, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. This meeting followed the Special Session on HIV/AIDS in 2001, the only other high-level meeting to discuss a health topic and orient the global political agenda toward a growing threat to human development. Proposed strategies for control of noncommunicable diseases focused mainly on the shared risk factors of tobacco, harmful use of alcohol, physical inactivity, and unhealthy diet. However, for cancer, a broader response is required. Notably, the heterogeneity of cancer with respect to its geographical distribution, etiology, and pathology all demand a more nuanced, regional, or even local approach. Preparations for the meeting elicited enormous attention from governments and nongovernmental organizations, but the engagement of the research community was less evident. This commentary calls for the involvement of the cancer research community in response to the further action detailed in the United Nations Political Declaration emanating from the meeting, identifies a number of cancer-specific priorities, including vaccination against hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, cervical cancer screening, and early detection of breast cancer, and suggests areas where cancer research can provide the evidence base for cancer control, notably in improving the quality and coverage of cancer registration, elucidating cancer etiology, and evaluating interventions, including their implementation in low-resource health-care settings. Finally, the need for global cooperation in developing a research agenda for low- and middle-income countries is highlighted.