Throughout the coming months, the World Heart Federation will be sending representatives to the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Committee Meetings, which are held to determine regional health policy and to approve programmes of work for each of the 6 WHO regions. Taking place annually from August – October, each meeting is guided by a specific agenda addressing pressing health issues in that region. Please check here for dates.
Civil society organizations attending the meetings – such as WHF – are able to submit and deliver policy statements on relevant topics. The Regional Meetings also gather important health actors and decision-makers of one Region together at a time, presenting valuable opportunities to advocate for better heart health.
A hot topic at the Regional Meetings this year will be the upcoming Third UN High-level Meeting on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which will be held in New York on the 27th September 2018. Tackling CVDs and their risk factors requires a response from government sectors beyond health. We therefore urge you to send the letter we have prepared to ensure that your Head of States and Ministers of Finance attend this important High-Level Meeting.
The World Heart Federation will additionally be calling on countries in all regions to implement the unanimously adopted a Global Resolution on Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease at the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. This historic decision marks the first time that Rheumatic Fever (RF) and Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) have been recognised as global health priorities on the world stage. The Resolution was co-sponsored by countries from all six WHO regions, demonstrating the urgent need for a global response. You can also read updates on our work on rheumatic heart disease on the RHD Action Website.
You can receive more updates about WHF’s activities at this year’s WHO Regional Meetings via Twitter, updates on our website, and via our Members’ News.
