WHO / Ismail Taxta
© Credits

WHO Global and Regional technical meeting on addressing NCDs in emergencies

13 – 15 December 2022
Cairo, Egypt

Background

In the run up to the 4th High-level Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs in 2025, the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, and the WHO Health Emergencies Programme at WHO headquarters, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, are co-hosting a Global and Regional technical meeting on addressing NCDs in emergencies, from 13 to 15 December 2022, in Cairo, Egypt.

Purpose

Drawing on the recommendations on how to strengthen the design and implementation of policies to treat people living with noncommunicable diseases and to prevent and control their risk factors in humanitarian emergencies, adopted during the 75th session of the World Health Assembly (WHA/A75/10/ Annex 4 Add.2), contributing also to the NCD implementation road map 2023–2030, this meeting aims to build political momentum, and discuss the development of a comprehensive approach to better include noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) into emergency preparedness and response plans.

Objectives

  1. Present WHO efforts to strengthen the integration of NCDs as part of an emergency and preparedness response.
  2. Review current NCD-related responses in countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and other emergencies.
  3. Recommend a strategic approach to improve WHO technical assistance to countries across preparedness, response, and recovery phases.
  4. Act as a global kick-off to regional technical meetings before a global high-level meeting later in 2023.

Expected outcome

  • Tailored recommendations to Member States, WHO, and international partners for better inclusion and strengthening policies, programmes, and services to treat people living with NCDs and prevent and control their risk factors into country COVID-19 response other humanitarian responses (HRPs) and recovery plans.
  • Specific recommendations for EMRO to strengthen collaboration, communication, and joint work across technical departments.

Format

Offering virtual participation, as well as in-person presence in Cairo, the 3-day meeting will comprise both a global segment on 13 December 2022 followed by a Regional meeting from 14 to 15 December 2022.

Language: The working language of the meeting will be English, with interpretation in Arabic provided during the plenary sessions.