Despite the summer sun, the work continues with a renewed call for applicants for the WHO Call for experts to join WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (STAG-NCD), particularly from low- or middle-income countries. Ethiopia is preparing to pilot the WHO NCD e-tracker app while Suriname successfully conducted a Health Promotion Workshop aimed at tackling the escalating NCD epidemic in the country through a global, political, and social process.
End-users' experience with WHO NCD e-tracker in Ethiopia
The WHO Department of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) is developing digital monitoring tools to assist with patient and programme monitoring, specifically for implementing indicators from the Noncommunicable disease facility-based monitoring guidance for primary care settings: Framework, indicators, and application. The NCD e-tracker (digital patient monitoring forms) has been configured in DHIS2 to support countries that are already using it as their health management information system platform. The NCD e-tracker app will need to be tested and appropriately adapted to enable efficient longitudinal collection of core data on early detection and management of hypertension, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and cancers in primary care settings.
As Ethiopia is preparing to pilot the WHO NCD e-tracker app, a user acceptance testing (UAT) of the prototype is necessary to ensure that the app is fit-for-purpose among intended end-users before its deployment in real settings. Around 20 health workers (end-users) in select health facilities participated in the UAT conducted by the Ministry of Health, Resolve to Save Lives and WHO, from 18 – 26 July 2023 in Addis Ababa Ethiopia. End-users interacted with the prototype, by performing clinical tasks such as searching for existing NCD patients, enrolling patients, entering data in patient records, and scheduling follow-ups, based on test scenarios. They also provided feedback on their experience with the app, suggestions for improving the flow and text in the forms, and what they thought would be important steps to optimize user experience and increase future adoption of this NCD patient monitoring tool in their facilities. The data from the NCD e-tracker UAT sessions are currently being analyzed and a summary of the findings and recommendation will be shared with stakeholders to guide enhancement of NCD e-tracker app through user-centred design, in order to promote user adoption and retention.
For further information contact: QUIAMBAO, Arlene or FARZADFAR, Farshad
Health Promotion Workshop Addresses Non-Communicable Disease Epidemic in Suriname
Suriname, July 20, 2023 (PAHO/WHO) –The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health Suriname, successfully conducted a Health Promotion Workshop on July 19-20. The workshop aimed to tackle the escalating Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) epidemic in the country through a global, political, and social process that focuses on modifying social, environmental, and economic conditions to have a positive impact on individual and collective health.
For further information contact: cayona@paho.org
Advances on science helped lengthened the years of life, but aging is now increasing the burden of non-communicable diseases in the Region of the Americas
Aging is associated with an increased burden of non-communicable diseases, and therefore population growth and aging should be factored into healthcare planning. This is one of the main findings of a recent study done by PAHO experts and published in The Lancet Regional Health Americas. Public health programs in the Americas have led to improvements in water and sanitation, undernutrition and prevention and control of vaccine-preventable and other infectious diseases, and people living healthier lives. Improvements in living standards, socioeconomic status, and nutrition have led to an increasing burden of NCDs. NCD prevention and control therefore rightly focuses on lifestyle risk factors and social and commercial determinants of health. There are few published data on the importance of population growth and aging as a contributor to the regional NCD burden. Titled The rising burden of non-communicable diseases in the Americas and the Impact of population aging: a secondary analysis of available data, this study suggests that, as the pace of aging in the Americas increases, the demographic realities of population growth and population aging should be factored into healthcare planning. This will allow an understanding of the evolving NCD burden and its implications such as health system needs, and the readiness of governments and communities to respond.
For further information contact: cayona@paho.org
Association between population hypertension control and ischemic heart disease and stroke mortality in 36 countries of the Americas, 1990-2019: an ecological study
There is a strong ecological negative association between IHD and stroke mortality and population hypertension control. Countries with the best performance in hypertension control showed better progress in reducing CVD mortality, accordingly to a paper published in the Pan American Journal of Public Health the paper “Association between population hypertension control and ischemic heart disease and stroke mortality in 36 countries of the Americas, 1990-2019: an ecological study”. The study quantified the association between the prevalence of population hypertension control and ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke mortality in 36 countries of the Americas from 1990 to 2019. The results indicate that population hypertension control showed an inverse association with IHD and stroke mortality, respectively, regionwide and in all but 3 out of 36 countries. Regionwide, for every 1% increase in population hypertension control, the data predicted a reduction of 2.9% (–2.94 to –2.85) in IHD deaths per 100 000 population, equivalent to an averted 25 639 deaths (2.5 deaths per 100 000 population) and 2.37% (–2.41 to –2.33) in stroke deaths per 100 000 population, equivalent to an averted 9 650 deaths (1 death per 100 000 population).
For further information contact: cayona@paho.org
The Minamata Convention and the challenges for countries to phasing down the use of dental amalgam
From 21 to 23 June, the Minamata Secretariat invited around 30 parties of the Minamata Convention to the Global Workshop: Implementing the Minamata Convention obligations on mercury-added products in Geneva. These parties had previously reported on challenges in the implementation of phasing out mercury-added products as well as phasing down dental amalgam. The Minamata Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from the harmful impact of mercury. Mercury is among the top 10 of chemicals of major public health concern. The Minamata Convention proposes measures to phase out mercury added products as well as phase down the use of dental amalgam. During the workshop, the WHO Oral health programme presented on the global progress in phasing out dental amalgam, WHO’s mandate linked to the Resolution on oral health (2021) the Global Strategy on Oral Health (2022), the Global Oral Health Action Plan 2023-2030 (2023) and its global target on environmentally sound oral health care. Additional information on the GEF7 project on phasing down the use of dental amalgam are available on the knowledge hub platform of UNEP.
For further information contact: STAUF, Marie Nicole
Newsletter of the PAHO Dept. of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health
Read the latest news in the newest edition of the Newsletter of the PAHO Dept. of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Including news on the High-Level Commission on Mental Health and COVID-19 of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the report "A New Agenda for Mental Health in the Region of the Americas" (NAMHA), hypertension, informative videos and the impact of Covid on NCD medicines access. Subscribe to hear more.
For further information contact: cayona@paho.org
Second WHO Symposium on the Future of Digital Health Systems in the European Region
5 – 6 September, Porto, Portugal: Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) in health has sparked public debate on the extent to which technology, and more specifically generative AI, has the potential to infringe upon personal privacy and impact the health of populations. To explore this and other issues impacting current and future European Region health system landscapes, WHO/Europe is hosting the second WHO Symposium on the Future of Digital Health Systems in the European Region on 5–6 September. To be held in Porto, Portugal, and co-organized with the Portuguese government, the symposium will bring together government representatives, key thought leaders, policy experts, academics, health-care workers, civil society representatives, professional organizations and other partners to help shape actions in support of the “Regional digital health action plan for the WHO European Region 2023–2030” approved at the 72nd session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in 2022.
Over the course of the 2 days, participants will have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the following topics:
· Unlocking the potential of digital health to fight noncommunicable diseases;
· Digital health for pandemic preparedness 2.0 in the WHO European Region;
· Digital technologies and One Health: balancing and optimizing the health of people, animals and the environment;
· Using digital solutions for the prevention and control of communicable disease;
· From big data to personalized care: how AI and precision medicine is revolutionizing care;
· Beyond the walls: how can telehealth revolutionize health care?
· Revolutionizing health information systems for data-driven decision-making
· Harnessing the power of emerging technologies for better mental health
During the event, WHO/Europe will launch a new flagship regional report on “Leveraging and scaling up digital transformation for better health and resilience in the European Region”, putting forward new data from all 53 Member States. The Symposium will be hosted as a hybrid event.
For further information contact the WHO Europe office
Call to join WHO Advisory Group
Call for Experts to join WHO Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (STAG-NCD)
30 June: WHO is seeking experts to serve as members of the Strategic and Technical Advisory Group on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (STAG-NCD). STAG-NCD was established in 2021 to act as an advisory body to WHO to further WHO’s leadership and coordination role in promoting and monitoring global action against noncommunicable diseases. The STAG-NCD members have a broad range of technical knowledge and skills for NCDs, including scientists, public health experts, healthcare professionals, innovators and policy-makers with expertise in NCDs. For more information and how to apply see below.
For further information contact the NCD Department
Technical brief on: Organizing health care services to ensure universal health coverage
21 July: Ensuring good quality health services for all at every stage of life is at the heart of universal health coverage (UHC). While focusing on increased financial, human and material resources is a legitimate pathway towards UHC, it is insufficient. We cannot simply buy our way towards UHC: we must also consider which services are prioritized and how they are organized and delivered to positively affect health outcomes, trust and cost. More attention to the core components of service delivery is therefore required. These components include service design, prioritization, planning and management and delivery support mechanisms. They drive decisions on how to strengthen structural elements (governance, financing, workforce, physical environment, information systems and other health technologies).
For further information contact: Slim SAMA
Assessing national capacity for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases: report of the 2021 global survey
5 July: To assess national-level responses to NCDs, WHO has implemented NCD country capacity surveys periodically since 2001. This report is the latest in that series. Since the first survey round, the NCD Country Capacity Survey (NCD CCS) has been conducted a further seven times, most recently in 2021. In the survey, completed by the NCD focal point within each country’s ministry of health or similar agency, countries are asked to report on the following topics relating to NCDs: (i) public health infrastructure, partnerships and multisectoral collaboration; (ii) policies, strategies and action plans; (iii) health information systems and surveillance; (iv) health system capacity for detection, treatment and care; and, added for 2021, (v) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NCD-related resources and activities. The questionnaire is web-based and requires supporting documentation wherever possible. In the 2021 round, data were collected from May onwards, with the last survey responses arriving in September. Validation was carried out by WHO regional offices and WHO headquarters. Country responses to previous rounds of the survey were incorporated into the analysis to assess progress since 2010. Although all 194 Member States responded to the survey, data comparisons were restricted to the 160 countries that had responded to all rounds of the survey since 2010.
For further information contact RILEY, Leanne Margaret
Further Self Care Publications for Health Workers
21 July: Three framework to aid health workers in their self-care efforts have been published
1. Self-care competency framework: volume 1: global competency standards for health and care workers to support people’s self-care : The standards define 10 key competencies for health and care workers to support self-care in their clinical practice as well as the specific, measurable behaviours that demonstrate those competencies, focusing on people-centredness; decision-making; effective communication; collaboration; evidence-informed practice, and personal conduct.
2. Self-care competency framework: volume 2: knowledge guide for health and care workers to support people’s self-care: The knowledge guide is the second publication in the Self-care competency framework to support health and care workers. This describes how health and care workers can apply each of the 10 competency standards in their work, detailing the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes that underpin the required behaviours.
3. Self-care competency framework: volume 3: curriculum guide for health and care workers to support people’s self-care: The curriculum guide is the third publication in the Self-care competency framework to support health and care workers. It is a resource for educational institutions and curriculum developers to develop competency-based education and training for health and care workers.
For further information contact the WHO Europe office
No place for cheap alcohol: Scotland’s minimum unit pricing policy is protecting lives
26 July: Pricing policies are among the most cost-effective measures that countries can use to reduce alcohol consumption and harms. Published in June 2023, the independent evaluation of Scotland’s minimum unit pricing (MUP) policy concluded that in 2.5 years of operation, it has prevented hundreds of avoidable deaths and reduced health inequalities linked to alcohol consumption. The report, undertaken by Public Health Scotland, found strong evidence that MUP in Scotland reduced deaths directly caused by alcohol consumption as well as hospital admissions due to chronic causes. Deaths caused by alcohol dropped by an estimated 13.4% and hospital admissions by 4.1%, with the largest reductions seen among men and those living in the most deprived areas.
For further information contact GUERRA, Jaimie Marie
First Webinar in a new series on Primary Health Care
July 31: First Webinar in a new series on Primary Health Care to discuss strategies to ensure access to health services.
How can we implement the PHC approach in territories and populations facing differentiated access barriers?
The webinar aims to promote reflection among a diverse group of high-level panelists on two regional reports that PAHO/WHO will present during the event. The first report, "Analyzing and Overcoming Access Barriers to Strengthen Primary Health Care," and the second is about the results of the "Fourth round of the national survey on the continuity of essential health services during the COVID-19" pandemic, providing valuable lessons on the relevance of service continuity.
For further information contact: Cayon, Ms. Arantxa (WDC)
Heated tobacco products: summary of research and evidence of health impacts
26 July The policy brief summarizes the eighth report of the WHO Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation, entitled WHO study group on tobacco product regulation: report on the scientific basis of tobacco product regulation: eighth report of a WHO study group. This eighth report of the Study Group, which addressed novel and emerging nicotine and tobacco products, specifically electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), electronic non-nicotine delivery systems (ENNDS) and heated tobacco products (HTPs), provided evidenced- based recommendations on these products and informed the development of the report of WHO to the ninth and tenth Sessions of the Conference of the Parties to the WHO Framework on Tobacco Control.
For further information contact GUERRA, Jaimie Marie
Please send your updates for inclusion in the next edition of the NCDs Newsflash: kennedyan@who.int
