Introduction
The year 2019 was especially marked by the beginning of our activities in childhood obesity, bringing together specialists, public managers, and civil society to discuss and propose solutions to face this silent epidemic in Brazil. In this context, we launched the 1st Panorama of Childhood Obesity, which pointed out a huge challenge in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where the number of children and adolescents with severe obesity doubled between 2008 and 2018.
In pediatric oncology, we sought to make a difference by stimulating dialogue between national and international specialists in various spaces and through the organization of the 5th Pediatric Oncology Forum, as well as the first national meeting on the World Health Organization's Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer. We also play an active role in the qualification of cancer registries, emphasizing that information on health is the basis for planning and controlling diseases. In this field, I highlight the support for the Toronto Consensus in Brazil, as this international guideline for pediatric tumor staging is of fundamental importance for the control of childhood cancer.
Our work in areas so relevant to the health of children and adolescents has paved the way for Desiderata’s articulation with the public health care sector and society as a whole. For the second year in a row, we were selected as one of the 100 Best NGOs in Brazil by the Instituto Donar, confirming our institutional commitment to transparency and the results that have contributed to the prevention, diagnosis, and timely care for children and adolescents.
Together with an engaged and committed team, active advisors, and key partners for public health care, I share our activities and results from 2019.
Enjoy your reading!
Roberta Costa Marques | Executive Director
