PREPARING FOR THE WORLD REHABILITATION ALLIANCE

In many countries around the world there is an urgent need to strengthen rehabilitation. Globally, an estimated 2.4 billion people are living with a health condition that could benefit from rehabilitation. This number is expected to grow due to people living longer and with more chronic disease and disability. It is estimated, however, that in low- and middle-income countries, more than 50% of people do not receive the rehabilitation they require, while the full impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future rehabilitation needs is also yet to be seen.

The World Rehabilitation Alliance is a WHO global network of stakeholders whose mission is to support the implementation of the Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative through advocacy activities. It focuses on promoting rehabilitation as an essential health service that is integral to Universal Health Coverage and to the realization of Sustainable Development Goal 3, ensuring healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. 

In preparation for the commencement of the World Rehabilitation Alliance advocacy activities, WHO will be hosting an event on 13 September. From 14:00 to 15:00 CET, join us to:

• Announce the Steering Committee members;
• Highlight the need for and the added value of the World Rehabilitation Alliance; and
• Introduce the five workstreams of the World Rehabilitation Alliance.

If you would like to be involved for membership, we encourage interested and eligible organizations to apply for membership as soon as possible to be part of workstreams workplan development following the pre-launch. We hope you can join us.

CONSULTING ON OUR DRAFT GLOBAL ACTION PLAN FOR ORAL HEALTH

Member States have requested that WHO translates the Global Strategy on Oral Health, agreed at this year’s World Health Assembly, into an action plan for public oral health by 2023. Working in consultation with Member States, this action plan will include a framework for tracking progress with clear measurable targets of oral health to be achieved by 2030.

In response to this mandate, the WHO Secretariat has now prepared a first draft WHO discussion paper containing a proposed draft global oral health action plan. The draft action plan includes a series of evidence-informed actions and a monitoring framework to track progress, with a set of proposed targets, to be achieved by 2030.

So we are ready to present the global action plan to Member States at this year’s WHO Executive Board, and next year’s World Health Assembly, the following consultative process is being done:

12 August to 16 September 2022: WHO Secretariat convenes a global web-based consultation for Member States, UN organizations, and non-State actors (nongovernmental organizations, private sector entities, philanthropic foundations, and academic institutions) on the WHO discussion paper on the draft global oral health action plan.
1 September 2022: WHO Secretariat convenes an informal consultation with Member States and UN organizations.
2 September 2022: WHO Secretariat convenes an informal consultation with non-State actors in official relations with WHO.

We would like to invite you to provide comments on the WHO discussion paper, available below by 16 September 2022. 

All inputs received through the consultation process will be made available online following the consultation. Non-State actors in official relations with WHO, interested in attending the informal consultation to be held on 2 September 2022, are kindly requested to register in advance at the link below.

LAST CALL FOR TRAINING COURSE ON NCD SURVEILLANCE, IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION

The WHO/Europe training course on NCD surveillance, implementation and evaluation is jointly developed by WHO collaborating centres and partner organizations. This course is coordinated by the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases. It is developed for early and mid-career professionals in the field of NCDs, including researchers, policy-makers and postgraduate students.

The course consists of 15 modules, each 3 hours in duration. It offers an overview of important knowledge and necessary skills needed to achieve the 2025 NCD global targets and United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.4. The aim is to build capacity among stakeholders to achieve NCD-related global targets.

Participants will gain important knowledge and develop skills to build capacity among stakeholders to achieve NCD-related global targets. In addition to acquiring fundamental knowledge and tools necessary to successfully work in the area of public health and NCDs, the online course offers the opportunity to connect with colleagues and expand professional networks.

You have until 30 August 2022 to apply.

This week, the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa has been taking place in Lomé, Togo, including discussions on the importance of adopting essential NCD interventions in primary care, integrating NCDs with Universal Health Coverage, and efforts to prioritize sickle cell disease: you can watch along to the recordings here!

SUPERIORITY OF OCTAGONAL WARNING LABELS IN THE AMERICAS

Front-of-pack labelling systems can inform consumers about excessive amounts of critical nutrients of public health concern in a direct, simple, easy, and quick manner. Across the Americas, studies conducted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Jamaica, and Panama, analyzed the effectiveness of the octagonal warning stamps, to be adopted in Central America and the Caribbean. Other systems are also adopted around the world, such as a traffic light system, a guideline daily quantity system, and the Nutri-Score system. 

The results of the studies support the conclusion that the frontal labeling system of octagonal warnings, included in the proposals of Central American and Caribbean legislation, is the most effective and constitutes the best option for the population. In addition, they guide decision-making in public policies aimed at establishing healthier food environments and preventing NCD related to poor nutrition. 

On 30 August, please join PAHO to discuss policy implications of the results obtained in these studies and disseminate the knowledge and build partnerships to exchange experiences on front-of-package labeling implementation. The webinar will: 

• Present the results of the studies in Central America and the Caribbean on the efficacy of the different labeling systems;
• Discuss policy implications of the results obtained;
• Disseminate the knowledge and build partnerships to exchange experiences on FOPL implementation.

The webinar will be available in English and Spanish with simultaneous interpretation in both languages.

CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING FOR WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV

Women living with HIV are at disproportionately high risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, and subsequent cervical cancer. A new study conducted by researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and local partners in Pune, India, provides information on the incidence of high-grade cervical precancerous lesions in women living with HIV, according to their HPV infection status, and follow-up outcomes of women treated for lesions with thermal ablation.

The findings, published in the International Journal of Cancer, indicate women living with HIV who had persistent infection with a high-risk HPV type had a 138-fold increase in the risk of such lesions or cancer, compared with women living with HIV who were HPV-negative at baseline. 

The observation that HPV-negative women living with HIV have a very low risk of developing lesions or invasive cancer within the follow-up period provides an early indication that recommended screening intervals could be extended for this group, with possibility to reduce costs and improve scalability, in support of WHO's Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative.

NEW POSITION PAPER ON BRAIN HEALTH

On 9 August, WHO launched a new position paper on brain health. The paper provides a framework for optimizing brain health across the life course, representing a technical complement to the recently adopted Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022-2031.

Many factors are known to have an impact on brain health at different stages of life (e.g. perinatal, infancy, early childhood, adolescence, adulthood and older age). These brain health determinants are all interconnected, can act at the individual and the societal level and can be roughly grouped into five larger categories: 

• physical health factors;
• healthy environments;
• safety and security;
• lifelong learning and social connection; and 
• access to quality services.

In return, the brain plays an important role for example in regulating cardiovascular, endocrinological and immunological health. Therefore, brain health is an important determinant for other health and societal outcomes and optimizing brain health should be a global policy priority well beyond the health sector.

Lack of resources and investment in NCD prevention and care has long been the Achilles’ heel of the NCD response. This year, let’s bridge the NCD investment gap and see this change!  It is all about prioritising the urgent need for increased NCD financing to prevent and treat NCDs and build resilient health systems that leave no one behind.

HOUSEKEEPING AND COUNTRY IMPACT

As part of efforts to improve WHO communications, we always want your feedback of what you like, and what you would like to see more of! Send me your feedback below.

We are also piloting a new On The Pulse feature series, working with WHO Regional and Country Offices to explore our country impact on NCDs! If you would like to be kept in the loop about this, please also let me know by writing.

THE TWEETS WE RETWEET

• Follow the launch of the World Rehabilitation Alliance using #ManyVoices1Message on social media! (August 2022)
• Share your views about investment in NCD prevention, treatment and care and why it makes financial sense, as part of a forthcoming NCD webinar on 8 September (August 2022)