Royalty in the News

During the opening of the World Health Organization’s regional committee in Fez, Morocco’s Princess Lalla Salma called for the creation of an anti-cancer solidarity fund for the Mideast.

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The wife of King Mohammed VI, who chairs her country’s anti-cancer association, said the disease does not have a place in the international community’s top priorities and urged that to change.

“In my capacity as Goodwill Ambassador for the World Health [Organization] I would like to start from the top of this prestigious forum, a call to all governments and policy makers, and through them the system of the UN to tell them that: It belongs to the international community to make the fight against cancer one of national and international priorities,” Lalla Salma said.

She continued to suggest a four year plan to combat the illness. The plan would rest namely on reinforcing solidarity among the Middle East countries, bolstering support to scientific research, adopting a national strategic planning approach, and paying key attention to the victims of this disease.

Also in her speech, Lalla Salma talked about the 10 year plan Morocco recently drafted for the prevention and control of cancer, which is based on good governance in the field.

“The calamitous effects of cancer,” said Her Royal Highness, “become more serious they are undermining the development process underway in many of our countries, especially those with low or medium incomes, especially in the absence an effective fight against smoking, responsible for 30% of cases affected by cancer. Worse: the consumption of tobacco, to devastating consequences, is, unfortunately, frightening proportions in our region, which has become one of the markets most conducive to the spread of this pernicious evil.”

In addition, the Princess discussed other diseases, such as AIDS.

“If diseases like AIDS and addictions of all kinds, growing in magnitude and severity,” she said. “It is because some complex cultural legacy of the show as “taboo” or forbidden, that the we must hide, and it is shameful to discuss.” Lalla Salma once again pointed out how Morocco, under the guidance of her husband, has set up several detox centers and AIDS prevention and treatment centers.

Lastly, the Princess talked about the global economic crisis, as well as the H1N1 virus, which is on the top of the list of many countries. “This crisis,” she said, “was accompanied by the beginnings of a turning point, symbolized by the globalization of the safety issue.”

“Similarly, it induces a greater awareness of the need to foster the emergence of a new global health, which is marked with the seal of equity and based on the principles of solidarity and responsibility.”