Geneva, 26 May 2016 (PAHO/WHO) - Delegates at the World Health Assembly agreed, on 26 May, to implement two new health strategies that are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. One relates to women's, children's, and adolescents' health; the other, to healthy aging.
Global Strategy for Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health
Delegates committed to take forward the implementation of Global Strategy for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health (2016-2030), which sets out to ensure every woman, child, and adolescent, in any setting, anywhere in the world, is able to both survive and thrive by 2030.
The strategy and the new operational framework place a strong emphasis on country leadership. They highlight the need to strengthen accountability at all levels through monitoring national progress and increasing capacity to collect and analyze data. They underscore the importance of developing a sustainable evidence-informed health financing strategy, as well as strengthening health systems and building partnerships with a wide range of actors across different sectors.
The adopted resolution calls on the World Health Organization (WHO) Secretariat to provide technical support to Member States in updating and implementing their national plans and to report regularly to the World Health Assembly on progress towards women's, children's, and adolescents' health. It also requests the Secretariat to continue to collaborate with other United Nations agencies and partners to advocate and leverage assistance so that national plans can be implemented.
Towards a world in which everyone can live a long and healthy life
Delegates also approved a resolution on the global strategy and action plan on healthy aging (2016-2020). In May 2014, the World Health Assembly asked the Director-General to develop a comprehensive global strategy and plan of action to address the world's rapidly aging populations.
The proportion of the world's population aged 60 years or over could double between 2000 and 2050, rising to 22%. A WHO report released in October 2015 revealed little evidence that older people today are experiencing better health than their parents did at the same age. Moreover, good health in older age is distributed unequally, both within and across countries. Most health problems are linked to chronic conditions, particularly noncommunicable diseases, which can be prevented or delayed by adopting healthy behaviors across the life course.
The Region of the Americas is one of the most affected by population aging. In 2006, 50 million older adults lived in the Region, a figure that is estimated to double by 2025 and double again by 2050, at which time 1 in every 4 people in the Americas, and 1 in 5 worldwide, will be over age 60. Furthermore, more than 80% of the people born in the Region today will live to age 60, and 42% will live past 80. By 2025, there will be approximately 15 million people over age 80.
The aim of the approved strategy is for every country to commit to action on healthy aging. It calls for the development of age-friendly environments and the alignment of health systems to the needs of older adults. It envisages the development of sustainable and equitable systems of long-term care, and improved measurement, monitoring, and research. It emphasizes equity and human rights, including the important role of involving older adults in all decisions that concern them.
The Region of the Americas at the World Health Assembly
Delegates from the Americas have continued to contribute their viewpoints and experiences within the framework of the 69th World Health Assembly.
Health Ministers of the Americas speak on how to meet the health targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Ministers and delegates from countries of the Americas spoke on health in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the plenary session of the 69th World Health Assembly. A wide range of subjects were addressed by the ministers in their presentations, ranging from management of the Zika virus outbreak and other communicable diseases to the road to achievement of universal health coverage.
Overall, representatives from 24 countries of the Region addressed the plenary to present their views. A draft summary of each country's presentations is available online.
Health ministers of Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, and the United States share eHealth experiences at the World Health Assembly
Successful experiences on how eHealth can contribute to universal health coverage were shared by senior health managers from Costa Rica, Panama, Uruguay, and the United States, during a side event to the 69th World Health Assembly, which takes place through 28 May in Geneva, Switzerland.
Electronic health records, telemedicine, standards and interoperability, and the use of mobile devices are among the tools that information and communication technology (ICT) provides to the fields of medical science and public health, to help improve access, quality, and financial efficiency in health care.
For more information select this link.
Placing women, children, and adolescents at the center of actions is essential to achieving the SDGs
Experts from United Nations agencies and representatives from Uruguay, Canada, and other countries stressed that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can only be achieved if women, children, and adolescents are placed at the center of all actions.
At a technical briefing on the implementation of the Global Strategy for Women's, Children's, and Adolescents' Health (2016-2030), Dr. David Nabarro, United Nations Special Adviser for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Climate Change, stated that "investing in women and children's health and well-being reduces poverty and is cost-effective".
For more information select this link.
