Your weekly summary of NCD activities, curated by the WHO NCD Department
HOW IS THE WORLD PERFORMING ON UNIVERSAL HEALTH COVERAGE?
Universal health coverage (UHC) is a priority goal for many countries, and one of WHO’s Triple Billion targets to improve the health of billions of people by 2023.
UHC means that everyone receives quality health services, when and where they need them, without incurring financial hardship. Before COVID-19 struck, the world was far short of reaching SDG target 3.8 and the goal of one billion more people benefiting from UHC by 2023.
WHO has recently published its global monitoring report on tracking UHC for 2021. The report uses 14 indicators of service coverage from reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health (RMNCH); infectious diseases; NCDs; and service capacity and access. These indicators are indicative of service coverage, rather than a complete or exhaustive list of the services or interventions required to achieve UHC.
The report shows:
- While service coverage has improved in the last 20 years, the proportion of people facing financial hardship from out-of-pocket health spending has increased;
- The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to halt the progress made towards universal health coverage, particularly among disadvantaged populations;
- Even before the pandemic, the world was still 730 million people short of WHO's goal of one billion more people benefiting from UHC by 2023 - we now estimate that shortfall to be between 800 and 840 million;
- Progress in NCD is happening more slowly than for infectious diseases or RMNCH;
- Primary data were only available for 42% of NCD indicators at the global level - worse than any other indicator - with data collection poorer in lower-income countries.
In short: we cannot make progress on UHC without accelerated action on NCDs.
NEW REPORTS OF THE GLOBAL DIABETES SUMMIT
In 1921, insulin was co-discovered by Canadian researchers at the University of Toronto. This marked a revolutionary and life-saving step in transforming diabetes from a death sentence for people living with type 1 diabetes to a manageable disease, thereby saving millions of lives worldwide. The world recently celebrated the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin.
To mark the centenary of the discovery of insulin, and with the support of the University of Toronto, the WHO and the Government of Canada co-hosted the Global Diabetes Summit. The Summit raised awareness of diabetes as a global challenge, and highlights what more needs to be done to improve global outcomes.
We are delighted to share the report of the Global Diabetes Summit, published in English and French. It profiles the perspectives of Heads of States and Ministries of Health, UN agencies, civil society, academia and persons with lived experiences of diabetes, finding four key themes:
- The triumph of the discovery of insulin is being undone by the tragedy of unequal distribution;
- Every person living with or at risk of diabetes needs a strong health system;
- It’s essential that people living with or at risk of diabetes receive a range of services, no matter who they are or where they live;
- Embracing the meaningful engagement of people living with or at risk of diabetes means less death, less shattered health systems, and less economic misery.
This month is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month! Cervical cancer could be the first cancer ever in the world to be eliminated if we reach the following '90-70-90' targets by 2030.
- 90% of girls are vaccinated;
- 70% of women are screened;
- 90% of women with cervical disease receive treatment.
THEMATIC PRE-SUMMIT ON DISABILITY INCLUSION IN THE HEALTH SECTOR
Last week the Government of Norway, the Government of Ghana and the International Disability Alliance, in collaboration with WHO, co-hosted a Thematic Pre-Summit on Disability Inclusion in the Health Sector, under the auspices of the Global Disability Summit 2022.
Introduced by the Prime Minister of Norway, Jonas Gahr Støre, and Dr Tedros, and described by a supporting commentary in Health Policy Watch, the objective of the Pre-Summit was to galvanize recognition that disability inclusion is fundamental to the success of achieving health and wellbeing for all.
This recognition is essential to build momentum and to catalyse the political prioritization needed for heads of states and governments, ministers, heads of agencies and international organizations, the private sector, and civil society leaders to make concrete commitments on disability inclusion in the health sector.
This work leads up to the Global Disability Summit on 16-17 February 2022. We expect the Summit to lead to concrete political commitments that will bring about genuine change for persons with disabilities, tackle inequalities, and foster inclusive development, and humanitarian action, guided by a human-rights approach.
In preparation for the Global Disability Summit, we are also inviting stakeholders to pledge commitments to the disability agenda. The deadline for these submissions has been extended to 26 January.
The 2022 Global Disability Summit in Norway is the follow-up to the first-ever Disability Summit, held in London in 2018. Watch along here with participants of the 2018 Summit, discussing how efforts to come together are creating a new era of the disability rights movement.
CONSULTING PEOPLE WITH LIVED EXPERIENCES OF NCDs AND MENTAL HEALTH IN SOUTH EAST ASIA
WHO is in the process of developing a Framework for Meaningful Engagement of People Living with NCDs, and Mental Health Conditions. This framework will guide WHO and Member States in how to meaningfully engage people living with, or affected by these conditions, including to co-design policies, programmes, and principles.
Co-hosted by our South-East Asia Regional Office (WHO SEARO) and the WHO Global Coordination Mechanism for Noncommunicable Disease (GCM/NCD), we are hosted an informal consultation on 16 and 17 February 2022.
This consultation will seek participatory development for the framework, explore why meaningful engagement is important, and how it can be implemented at a regional and national level. Discussions during the Regional Consultations will build on recent WHO Informal Consultations, for people living with NCDs, and with diabetes, in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
For more information on the consultation, including how to attend, please access the expression of interest form below.
17th MEETING OF THE UN INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCE ON NCDs
Last month, WHO and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) co-hosted the 17th Meeting of the Task Force, bringing together 24 Task Force members participated alongside a small number of United Nations Resident Coordinators.
Actions were agreed to drive forward activities at country level on tobacco control, reducing harmful use of alcohol, and improving healthy diet – and across a number of joint programmes and initiatives.
Members also agreed to continue their work to advocate and build the case at country level for Global Fund applications to include NCDs and mental health, in line with the Global Fund’s co-infection and co-morbidities policy.
Members received an update on the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund for NCDs and Mental Health and the outcomes of the first Steering Committee that was held in November.
Finally, Task Force members agreed to finalize a Task Force strategy for 2022-2024, taking into account the mid-point evaluation of the implementation of the WHO Global NCD Action Plan that also evaluated the work of the Task Force, and recent ECOSOC resolutions on the work of the Task Force.
SUBMIT YOUR FILMS TO OUR HEALTH FOR ALL FILM FESTIVAL - WITH A SPECIAL FOCUS ON REHABILITATION
Films are a powerful way to raise awareness, improve understanding and encourage action so that this festival aims to contribute to health promotion and education about health.
The WHO Health for All Film Festival invites independent filmmakers, production companies, public institutions, NGOs, communities, students, and film schools from around the world to submit their original short films on health. The festival's aim is to recruit a new generation of film and video innovators to champion and promote global health issues.
The role of NCDs within UHC remains a core theme of the 2022 festival. This year, we are also delighted to announce that there will be a special prize for films focused on rehabilitation. We can't wait to see your entries! You have until 30 January to apply.
The 3rd edition of the Health for All Film Festival calls for submissions until 30 January 2022, including a special prize for rehabilitation! We look forward to seeing your films.
OUR NEW LOOK
As part of efforts to improve WHO communications, this edition of the NCD Newsflash comes from our new platform, Campaign Monitor! We appreciate your patience as we refine this new template, and you can share your feedback at the link below.
THE TWEETS WE RETWEET
- Follow NCDs at WHO's Executive Board next week using the hashtag #EB150
- Are you a young person with lived experience of NCDs? Explore @NCDChild's new survey to inform a campaign to avoid discrimination and stigma from NCDs (January 2022)
