Our work with the World Health Organization (WHO)
As an organisation in official relations with the WHO, we have been involved in a number of activites this year.
Informal meetings with Non-State Actors ahead of the 74th World Health Assembly
Ahead of the Seventy-Fourth World Health Assembly, Non-State Actors in official relations with WHO were invited to attend a virtual informal meeting with Member States, representatives of WHO regional and country offices, and the Secretariat. World Obesity congratulates WHO for their commitment to increase the dialogue between Member States and civil society organisations.
World Obesity participates in the Global Diabetes Summit
On Wednesday 14th April, the Global Diabetes Summit took place to align with the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin and the launch of WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact. World Obesity Federation applauds the launch of WHO Global Diabetes Compact and welcomed the opportunity to play an active role in the Summit.
On 9-11 December 2020, World Obesity Federation members and patient experts joined a WHO Consultation on People Living with NCDs and called for greater engagement of people living with obesity in the global NCD agenda. The Consultation report revealed three overarching themes and is now available here.
Informal meetings with Non-State Actors ahead of the 74th World Health Assembly
Ahead of the Seventy-Fourth World Health Assembly, Non-State Actors in official relations with WHO were invited to attend a virtual informal meeting with Member States, representatives of WHO regional and country offices, and the Secretariat. Scheduled between 20-22 April 2021, the agenda for the meeting was organised around the Health Assembly agenda and the 13th General Programme of Work, and structured as two three-hour sessions over the course of three days. The sessions between the WHO Secretariat, Member States and Non-State Actors allowed for a broad discussion on a number of selected agenda items. Attendees of the sessions had the opportunity to share questions to help structure the discussion.
World Obesity welcomed the opportunity for Non-State actors to play a leading role both in the panels and discussion sessions and congratulates WHO for their commitment to increase the dialogue between Member States and civil society organisations.
World Obesity participates in the Global Diabetes Summit
In addition to the undisputable strong correlation between obesity and diabetes, the two diseases share a common target in the 2025 NCD plan of zero increase in the prevalence of obesity and diabetes. As it currently stands, the likelihood of this target being met are very slim. Earlier in the year, advocates from World Obesity Federation participated in WHO’s Consultation on People Living with Diabetes. On Wednesday 14th April, the Global Diabetes Summit took place to align with the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin and the launch of WHO’s Global Diabetes Compact. World Obesity Federation applauds the WHO Global Diabetes Compact and welcomed the opportunity to be part of the Summit, which aimed to raise awareness of diabetes and address the need to simultaneously scale-up prevention and treatment as part of Universal Health Coverage and primary health care.
World Obesity’s CEO Johanna Ralston moderated a panel discussion on engagement opportunities for people living with diabetes, focused on how advocacy and education may address stigma and other barriers faced by people living with diabetes in engaging meaningfully with the work of the Global Diabetes Compact. The panel also included the voices of patient experts from around the world, including World Obesity’s advocate Allison Ibrahim (USA/Kuwait). Interested in learning more? Segment 1 and Segment 2 of the Summit are available on WHO’s YouTube channel.
WHO’s new report: “Nothing for us, without us: opportunities for meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs: meeting report”
On 9-11 December 2020, World Obesity Federation members and patient experts joined a WHO Consultation on People Living with NCDs and called for greater engagement of people living with obesity in the global NCD agenda. The aim of this participatory consultation was to “initiate discussions in a diverse community to map current activities and opportunities for engagement, find synergies in different areas and to identify models of engagement and evidence gap to guide operationalisation of meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs in the governance, design, implementation and evaluation of policies, programmes and services.” Johanna Ralston, CEO, played an active role both by being a keynote speaker as well as a moderator for a number of breakout groups:
“We are all suffering from mental health challenges associated with COVID-19. There is not one of us that has not been impacted. We are all in this together. In the age of COVID-19, people living with NCDs have a lot to teach people… our disease does not define us, we are special actors that can shape the global response to NCDs.”
The consultation revealed three overarching themes, explored in more details in WHO’s new report Nothing for us, without us: opportunities for meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs: meeting report:
- Theme 1: Meaningful engagement activates agents of change and builds on what is meant by meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs;
- Theme 2: From talking the talk to walking the walk shows how the process should be conducted;
- Theme 3: Actions we want to see indicates the methods the participants consider should be used to support active, participatory engagement of people living with NCDs.
World Obesity is committed to advocating for people-centred care and ensuring that PLWNCDs are at the heart of all our work. This Consultation and the inclusion of PLWNCDs is a positive step and World Obesity will continue to advocate for the sustained, meaningful engagement of people living with NCDs in all policy processes.