GAINS IN HEALTHY LIFE EXPECTANCY IN AFRICA OFFSET BY NCDs

A new WHO assessment reports that healthy life expectancy in the African region has increased on average by 10 years per person between 2000 and 2019. This rise is greater than in any other region of the world during the same period. 

The most significant achievements were in preventing and treating infectious diseases, but this was offset by the dramatic rise in hypertension, diabetes and other NCDs and the lack of health services targeting these diseases. Within the service coverage index for universal health coverage, NCDs was the slowest component to progress. The report also notes that “where NCD services are becoming increasingly important, given the rise in chronic diseases… the extent of NCD coverage [is] more critical now than in the past”.  

Progress in healthy life expectancy could also be undermined by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic unless robust catch-up plans are instituted. On average, African countries reported greater disruptions across essential services compared with other regions. More than 90% of the 36 countries responding to a 2021 WHO survey reported one or more disruptions to essential health services, with immunization, neglected tropical diseases and nutrition services suffering higher disruptions.

The report also identifies specific examples of country impact and progress, including: 

• Equipping Congo’s 24 integrated health centres with diagnostic equipment and health care services for NCDs;
• The development of South Africa’s National Strategic Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases;
• Senegal reviewing its national NCD strategic plan;
• Cabo Verde finalizing pilot structures and supervision instruments for implementing the essential package of WHO noncommunicable disease interventions for NCDs in primary health care (WHO PEN);
• Seychelles introducing its package of essential noncommunicable diseases interventions (SEY-PEN) in two health facilities;
• South Sudan completing a review, update and validation of its new package of essential noncommunicable guidelines.

LEARNING WORKSHOP FOR WHO NCD STAFF IN THE AFRICAN REGION

The NCD burden has been on an upward trajectory across all the African Region. Mortality from NCDs is increasing, mainly due to weaknesses in implementing essential NCD interventions, including prevention, diagnosis and care. And despite our efforts, most Member States remain off track to reaching the SDG target 3.4, calling for a reduction of a third in premature mortality from NCDs between 2015 and 2030. 

To accelerate the progress toward the NCD-related SDG targets, various actions have been organized to support Member States, such as the Implementation roadmap 2023-2023 for the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2030, and the International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and the SDGs.

To accelerate NCD action across the African Region, WHO AFRO is organizing a series of regional learning webinars for WHO NCD staff from Country offices, Multi Country Assignment Teams and the Regional Office. The webinars aim to: 

• Update participants on WHO guidance documents, tools, and technical packages to be utilized for NCDs and Mental Disorders prevention and control;
• Share progress on the implementation of regional frameworks and strategies, including successes and challenges;
• Reach agreement on measures to ensure all countries in the Region have a clear understanding of the global NCD agenda, including progressing SDG targets 3.4 (on premature deaths from NCDs) and 3.8 (on advancing universal health coverage).

86 WHO NCD staff from WHO AFRO’s 47 Member States participated in our first webinar. Key global and regional strategic updates focusing on the NCD Global Action Plan, updating the priority set of NCD interventions for Member States (also known as ‘Appendix 3’ or the ‘NCD Best Buys’, and how to integrate NCDs within primary health care settings.  

The next webinar is planned for 1st September 2022. This will cover the essential packages WHO creates for the prevention and control of NCDs, and linkages with the global action plan for mental health.

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. The registration link will be made available on the page below at the end of August.

Continue following The Quitter Diaries and the real life journey of six people around the world as they try to quit tobacco for good. This sixth episode focuses on the benefits of quitting tobacco and how you regain parts of your life that were lost. These are the stories of Krishna from India, Ratib from Jordan, Sun Qi from China, Giorgi from Georgia, Cecilia from Uruguay and Donna from South Africa.

NEW DIABETES TOOL FOR OUR VIBER WOMEN’S HEALTH CHATBOT

Access to information in the desired language has been a longstanding challenge in many multilingual and multidialectal countries. Chatbots have the potential to provide real time, reliable information on health information.

Users of our interactive WHO Women’s Health Chatbot recently voted for a new health topic they were most interested in, with diabetes being the health condition chosen. In response, WHO has launched diabetes content, with a new set messages, include on the prevention of diabetes (where appropriate). Also featured are conversations about how diabetes can be diagnoses, and the treatment options available, for different types of diabetes, including ways to live and thrive with the condition.

The chatbot, which uses the Viber platform to deliver health information directly to subscribers’ mobile phones, is the latest in a series. People subscribing to the women’s health chatbot will find information on breast cancer, cervical cancer, endometriosis and diabetes, with more topics to be added soon. 

The chatbot is available in multiple languages.

Don't forget that for official, trusted health information about the COVID-19 pandemic, WHO has also launched a Health Alert chatbot on multiple social media channels. You can learn more below!

UPDATING THE WHO NCD BEST BUYS: CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE TO OUR SECOND INFORMAL CONSULTATION

You have the opportunity to comment on our second draft discussion paper on the update to Appendix 3 of the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2030 for public consultation.

The WHO 'best buys' are a priority set of effective, feasible and cost-effective interventions that WHO Member States can adopt to improve NCD outcomes for their populations, with a specific focus on accelerating progress in lower- and middle-income countries. They also inform how WHO monitors the world's progress and uptake of key NCD interventions.

They are crucial for countries around the world investing in NCDs, unlocking sustainable development, and save tens of millions of lives in this decade.

Please ensure you provide comments on the updated Appendix by 28 August at the link below. As other notable dates for your diary:

16 September 2022: The Secretariat will convene a second informal consultation with Member States and UN organizations.
19 September 2022: The Secretariat will convene a second informal consultation with non-State actors in official relations with WHO.

NEW RESEARCH IS HELPING TO BETTER EXPLAIN MARKERS OF MELANOMA

A new study by scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Barretos Cancer Hospital (Brazil) and partners is helping us to better understand how best to treat people with melanoma. Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is causally linked to cutaneous melanoma, yet the underlying epigenetic mechanisms behind this, also known as molecular sensors of exposure, have not been fully explained.

Using powerful DNA sequencing technologies, the team identified multi-omics markers of exposure to UV radiation that are critically involved in immune function and have the potential to drive cancer development. As such, they could be used to predict the survival of patients with cutaneous melanoma. This type of melanoma occurs mainly in fair-skinned people.

Notably, the study also reveals important features of melanomas not associated with UV exposure. This opens a window of opportunity for new therapeutic targets for patients with acral melanoma, the most common type of melanoma in darker-skinned people.

GLOBAL WEEK FOR ACTION ON NCDs

The annual Global Week for Action on NCDs seeks to ensure NCD prevention and management get the attention and action they deserve, everywhere, for everyone.

In 2022, NCD Alliance are bridging the NCD investment gap through the theme, ‘Invest to protect’. This year 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.

The Global Week of Action on NCDs in 2022 aims to get a message across to governments, donors, international agencies and private sector: Invest in NCDs today, save lives and money tomorrow. Investment in health is within the reach of all countries, and this year we are demanding an end to the massive disregard of human life.

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

• Get prepared for @NCDAlliance's Global Week for Action on NCDs - join the campaign and follow #ActOnNCDs on social media! (August 2022)
• Integrating treatment for NCDs into HIV care in South Africa (August 2022)