TWO WEEKS TO GO! REGISTER FOR THE INTERNATIONAL STRATEGIC DIALOGUE ON NCDs AND THE SDGs

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. Join us to hear from our co-hosts, Heads of State and Governments around the world, First Ladies, collaborating partners and people living with NCDs, to discuss ways 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 targets 3.4 (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.

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.

The International Strategic Dialogue 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.

Register here! Join our three co-hosts, several more Heads of State and Government from all six WHO regions, and a collective of First Ladies, for the first-ever International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and the SDGs!

NEW LANCET COUNTDOWN ANALYSIS: EFFECTIVE PATHWAYS AND INVESTMENTS TO ACCELERATE SDG 3.4 PROGRESS

A new study from the NCD Countdown 2030 collaboration is proposing a model package of 21 interventions, that can form the backbone of national NCD strategies and help countries get back on track to achieve SDG target 3.4. The study synthesizes the evidence related to interventions that can reduce premature mortality from the major NCDs over the next decade, and that are feasible to implement in countries at all levels of income.

Under a realistic implementation scenario, most countries could achieve SDG target 3.4 using a combination of interventions, with the greatest gains seen in cardiovascular disease mortality. Implementing the most efficient package of interventions in each region would require around an additional US$18 billion annually over 2023–30. However, this investment could avert 39 million deaths and generate an average net economic benefit of $2.7 trillion - or $390 per capita. 


The report concludes with a discussion of financing and health system implementation considerations and reflections on the NCD agenda beyond the SDG target 3.4 and beyond the SDG period. It will be part of the discussions at this month’s International Strategic Dialogue on NCDs and the SDGs - sign up below! 

REGULATORY PATHWAYS ON THE USE OF BLOOD PRESSURE MEASURING DEVICES

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of disease burden globally. To appropriately detect hypertension, accurate measurement of blood pressure is critical, and inaccurate measurement of BP has important consequences for policies to address hypertension, as well as for patient safety and quality of care. 

World Health Assembly Resolution 67.20 (on regulatory system strengthening for medical products) stresses the importance of regulation of medical devices for better public health outcomes and to increase access to safe, effective, and quality medical products.

This publication seeks to help meet these recommendations, by providing a practical tool for governments to improve their national regulatory frameworks to improve accuracy of blood pressure measuring devices (BPMDs). In turn, this can contribute to the exclusive use of accuracy validated automated BPMDs in primary health care facilities by 2025. 

It will also guide the development of procurement mechanisms that will ensure exclusive availability of BPMDs in primary health care facilities. Specifically, this publication will provide a brief background on the importance of using validated BPMDs and highlight key elements of regulations related to pre-market approvals to promote accurate BPMDs.

Nominated for the rehabilitation prize at the WHO Health for All Film Festival, 'Pacing the Pool' is a tiny glimpse into the life of Perth man Richard Pace, and what lies under the surface.

To Richard, water has been not only the source of life, but also the source of physical and mental healing.

SAYING NO TO TOBACCO FARMING

Data from the WHO indicates that an estimated 36 000 farmers still produce tobacco leaf in Kenya, primarily in the Nyanza and western provinces, with some farming in the central and eastern provinces.

Like many farmers in Uriri Sub-county, Migori County, Omulo used to cultivate tobacco.  But no longer. He is now passionate about his family’s shift to grow alternative crops, confident that their hard work will be the foundation for a brighter future for themselves and their community. He walks between rows of healthy maize and beans, stopping to admire what he has planted.

Together, WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) are collaborating on an alternative livelihood project, working with farmers, like Omulo, to incentivize farmers to move away from tobacco farming.

By using interventions such as a collective purchasing system within the United Nations, efforts are being made to create an enabling and supportive crop production and marketing ecosystem. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, out of 400 farmers targeted in Migori County, 330 have now transitioned successfully to high-iron beans farming.

THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKAEMIA IN CHILDREN

In a new modelling study published in the International Journal of Cancer, researchers from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and partner institutions in Germany project that COVID-19-related lockdown measures could impact future incidence rates of childhood leukaemia in Germany. The projected impact would be due to reduced social contacts, insufficient immunological training in the very youngest children, the closure of childcare facilities and infection with SARS-CoV-2. 

The model suggests that 6.4% of all of cases of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia occurring in children aged 2–6 years in Germany in 2020–2024 might be attributable to the lockdown measures preventing a child’s immune system from being adequately trained.

If these projections prove accurate, the authors hope that careful comparison between COVID-19 infection rates of children between countries will provide new and compelling ideas on how to prevent acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children.

Directed by Puspanjali Adhikari (Nepal), a film shortlisted for the rehabilitation special prize focuses on the 'Development of a Model One-Stop Approach to Post COVID 19 and other Rehabilitation Conditions'

EU AND WHO JOIN FORCES TO IMPROVE GLOBAL HEALTH SECURITY, ACCESS TO MEDICAL PRODUCTS AND HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES IN AFRICA

Last week, Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, and Dr Tedros met in Geneva to deliberate on the EU - WHO partnership in global health and the ongoing preparations for a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. 

The two senior representatives of signed a letter of intent for a €24.5 million EU contribution to WHO, to support the local manufacturing of and access to vaccines, medicines and health technologies in Sub-Saharan Africa. During the meeting, the EU and WHO also reviewed the current efforts to improve the global health architecture with a strong WHO at its centre, including through the preparation for a global accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

Welcoming the key role of the EU in promoting this initiative, Dr Tedros shared that these discussions represented a once-in-a-generation opportunity to strengthen the global health architecture to protect and promote the well-being of all people.

WHO has a longstanding, strategic partnership with the EU, as they work together to support countries in building systems for resilient, sustainable and inclusive development through the promotion of health and wellbeing, strengthening of health systems and preparedness and response to health emergencies. In 2020 - 2021, the EU consolidated its position as the 5th largest WHO contributor with US$ 466 million, confirming its leading role in global health.

WHO is only able to protect health, humanity’s most precious resource, because of the generosity and collaboration of our Member States, the private sector, foundations, academic institutions, civil society and other partners. Learn more about how WHO is funded here!

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.

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!

HOUSEKEEPING

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THE TWEETS WE RETWEET

• Join us for the global launch of the @WHO #QualityRights e-training on #mentalhealth, recovery and community inclusion (March 2022)
• @WHO continue to work around the clock on delivering medical supplies across #Ukraine (March 2022)