OFFICIAL SELECTION OF THE HEALTH FOR ALL FILM FESTIVAL

We are delighted to announce the 3rd edition of the Health for All Film Festival, featuring a new special prize for rehabilitation. 

Our expectations were exceeded, with approximately 300 short films submitted for the special prize on rehabilitation featuring a wide range of themes from different world regions. We would love to know what you think of the shortlisted films, particularly those shortlisted for the rehabilitation prize. You can watch the films below, and leave a comment using the hashtag #Film4health.

In the coming weeks, members of the jury including Sharon Stone, Emilia Clarke, Mia Maestro, Anita Abada, Eddie Ndopu and Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen will review the shortlisted films and recommend winners to the WHO Director-General, who will make the final decision. Three 'Grand Prix' and four special prizes, including the one on rehabilitation, will be announced mid-May during an online Awards Ceremony.

You can watch the complete official selection below.

Watch all WHO Health for All Film Festival submissions nominated for the rehabilitation prize here!

Out of more than 1200 submissions, you can rewatch two special NCD films from last year. Please note that the films in this official selection of our festival are independent creative works and do not represent the views of the World Health Organization.

“The Beat of Change: Rheumatic Heart Disease” is a documentary filmed in Mozambique about a disease still affecting mainly poorest populations, among young adults and especially women. It therefore covers various aspects of lack of equity regarding access to health care and to health prevention. It won the Grand Prix for Health Equity in the 2021 WHO Health for all Film Festival.

“The journey of hope” tells the true story of Sapna, a 10-year-old girl living below the poverty line in North-West India who suffers from leukemia. The film won the 'Grand Prix for Better Health and Well-Being' in the 2021 WHO Health for all Film Festival.

REGISTER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE ON NCDs AND THE SDGs

Cancers, heart diseases, diabetes and lung diseases, commonly known in the global health community as noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), together with mental health conditions, are the largest challenge facing global health today. Every year, there are more deaths from NCDs than any other disease group.

Global inaction on NCDs, combined with the COVID-19 pandemic, are creating the very real possibility that Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets 3.4 and 3.8 will not be met. Just 14 countries are on track to achieve SDG target 3.4, to reduce by one-third the premature mortality of NCDs through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being by 2030. Progress towards universal health coverage has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 12 April 2022, the Governments of Ghana, Norway and the World Health Organization are hosting the International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and the SDGs. This will take the next decisive step towards comprehensive action on NCDs and achieving SDG 3.4.

The International Strategic Dialogue seeks to:

• raise the priority of the prevention and control of NCDs in national SDG responses in low- and middle-income countries;
• unite actors and partners to exchange knowledge on how we achieve SDG targets3.4 (NCDs) and 3.8 (UHC); and
• raise the political visibility of Heads and State playing a global leadership role in the prevention and control of NCDs.

In doing so, it will explore:

• engaging collaborating partners, including people living with NCDs, to build solutions across stakeholders and sectors;
• accelerating the implementation of the most cost-effective and feasible NCD interventions as identified by WHO;
• investment in adequate, predictable and sustained resources for the prevention and control of NCDs;
• align and integrating the NCD agenda within the broader health system and responses to emerging global health threats;
• how Heads of State and political leaders are standing together as accountable champions for the prioritization of NCDs at the national and global levels.

NEW BRIEFING NOTE SERIES FOR ORAL HEALTH

Oral health is a key indicator of overall health, well-being and quality of life. It encompasses a range of diseases and conditions that include dental caries (tooth decay), periodontal (gum) disease, tooth loss, oral cancer, oro-dental trauma, noma and birth defects such as cleft lip and palate. 

Most oral diseases and conditions share modifiable risk factors with leading NCDs. For example, according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), cancers of the lip and oral cavity are among the top 20 most common cancers worldwide, with nearly 180 000 deaths each year.

This week marked World Oral Health Day, falling in the context of the Fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP-4). This is a global treaty that aims to protect human health and the environment from emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. 

Building on World Oral Health Day, we are releasing a series of briefing notes on oral health. This publication focuses on the prevention and treatment of dental caries with mercury-free products and minimally-invasive interventions.The publication, intended for non-specialists and the public at large, explains why mercury-free products and minimally-invasive interventions are important in oral health care.

It also describes six strategies using mercury-free products and minimally-invasive intervention approaches to prevent and treat dental caries: fluoride toothpaste, fluoride varnish, glass ionomer cement sealants, glass ionomer cement restorations, silver diamine fluoride and composite resin restorations.

MEETING OF THE GLOBAL HEARTS FORUM

To support governments in strengthening the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), WHO and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) launched the Global Hearts Initiative in 2016.

The Initiative comprises HEARTS, a set of five technical packages that provide high-impact, evidence-based interventions that, when used together, will have a major impact on improving global heart health.

This week, we hosted the Global HEARTS Forum, as an opportunity to learn from stakeholders and collaborating partners about their latest work on CVDs, and how their work aligns with the HEARTS. At the Forum, we also shared our plans for cardiovascular disease-related work, including:

• Our support for CVD prevention and control, such as the implementation of WHO's HEARTS and PEN technical packages, and recently published guidelines for hypertension, including their scaling at country-level;
• Select technical products under development;
• Supporting implementation research;
• Assessing the impact of country interventions.

TAXES ON SWEETENED DRINKS: MAKING THEM AN EFFECTIVE HEALTH MEASURE

Taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) can help countries fight NCDs and make people healthier – but this measure can be more effective if taxes are developed in collaboration between health and finance authorities.

This is one of the findings from a new WHO/Europe report, Sugar-sweetened beverage taxes in the WHO European Region. This report examines the experience of the 10 Member States who were first in the Region to introduce the measure.

The review finds there are many different patterns of SSB tax across the Region, and highlights some tips that can help decision-makers to turn taxes into an effective health measure:

• The tax base needs to reflect the health burden of consumption, as well as cultural patterns of the country;
• The design and implementation of SSB taxes is more successful if finance and health policy-makers developed these measures together;
• After first implementing SSB taxes, authorities can continue to improve them to align with new evidence and experiences of SSB taxation in other countries;
• Introducing any form of SSB taxes faces active opposition from the food and beverage industry. But with high government interest in adopting such policies, and limits set on industry involvement, the impact of the opposition of producers could be minimized;
• Support from NGOs, academics and other social actors is an important asset in countering industry opposition and fostering SSB tax adoption.

REGIONAL PAHO/WHO CONSULTATIONS ON MEANINGFUL ENGAGEMENT FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH NCDs AND MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

Over recent weeks, we have been sharing regional consultations for People Living with NCDs and Mental Health Conditions to develop a framework for meaningful engagement. This Framework will guide WHO and Member States in the meaningful engagement of both groups to co-design policies, programmes, and principles.

We are delighted to share the expressions of interest for our next PAHO/WHO Informal Consultations. These will be available to all People Living with NCDs and Mental Health Conditions in Latin America on 6 and 7 April, and in the Caribbean and North America on 20 and 21 April.

If you would like to participate, please register your interest at the link below!

SHARING EXPERIENCES OF MULTISECTORAL ACTION ON NCDs

WHO is launching a call for submissions and inviting its Member States to share their experiences on implementing multisectoral actions to strengthen collaboration across government sectors for the prevention and control of NCDs and mental health conditions.

This call for submissions is intended to map country-level experiences and select those that will be part of a collection of case studies, showcasing successful approaches in implementing multisectoral actions for further knowledge collaboration and capacity development.

Our call for submissions is open to all countries until 30 April 2022.

Submissions are being sought from all countries, with examples from low- and middle-income countries particularly encouraged. Government agencies, ministries or equivalent, both from the health sector and beyond, are welcomed to send their applications.

All accepted submissions will be showcased in a report, accessible online and disseminated widely through WHO channels and networks.

HOUSEKEEPING

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.

THE TWEETS WE RETWEET

• The work of NCD Child's Tobacco Working Group this #InternationalAdolescentHealthWeek (March 2022)
• Exploring maternal, newborn and child health in India in the context of post-COVID recovery (March 2022)