The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on noncommunicable disease (NCD) control around the world. Many NCDs are themselves risk factors for more severe cases of COVID-19, putting current patients at greater risk. At the same time, health services have struggled under a double burden of COVID and non-COVID health needs.
Nowhere have the effects of the pandemic been felt more strongly than in cities. Local health system capacity has been severely strained, and there has been significant socioeconomic disruption as a result of COVID containment measures such as lockdowns. The pandemic has put people’s health at risk beyond the disease itself. At the same time, it has created opportunities for changing current practice and exploring new ideas to promote better health in cities.
This webinar will explore key learnings on preventing and managing NCDs at the city level during the COVID-19 pandemic. It will explore how cities have responded to challenges across a number of NCDs and key risk factors, and will reflect on the potential impact of the pandemic on NCD control in cities in the future.
Speakers:
Dr Etienne Krug, Director, Social Determinants of Health, WHO
Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director, Noncommunicable Diseases, WHO
Dr Nathalie Roebbel, Head of Urban Health, WHO
Kelly Larson, Bloomberg Philanthropies
Dr Tolullah Oni, Clinical Senior Research Associate, University of Cambridge
Deputy Lord Mayor Nyanjura Doreen, Kampala, Uganda
Vice Mayor Eelco Eerenberg , Utrecht, The Netherlands
Dr Akosua Gvimah Omari-Sasu, Director of Health Services, Kumasi, Ghana