How a series of high-level meetings
at the world body can help consolidate gains, accelerate progress and promote
game-changing innovations across the WHO South-East Asia Region
On 26 and 27 September
respectively, the world’s most esteemed political forum – the UN General
Assembly (UNGA) – will deliberate on how best to address two equally
challenging public health issues: tuberculosis (TB) and noncommunicable
diseases (NCDs).
For many years WHO South-East Asia
and its member states have been Ground Zero in the battle against both. The
numbers show why: the region accounts for 50% of TB-associated mortality, with
TB the region’s leading cause of death and lost productive years in the crucial
15-49 years old age group. TB/HIV co-infection is meanwhile responsible for 25%
of AIDS-related deaths. On NCDs, though the region accounts for a bit over a
quarter of the world’s population, it is home to around 29% of NCD-related
premature mortality. Every year 8.9 million people in the region die of NCDs,
accounting for 64% of all deaths, many of which are entirely preventable.
The adverse impact these problems
have on health and development – and in the case of TB, on health security –
cannot continue. Not for the region’s 1.8 billion people, who have a right to
the highest attainable standard of health; nor for the pursuit of the region’s
Flagship Priorities and the Sustainable Development Goal targets.
To their immense credit, member
states are making strong gains.
In recent years, each one of them
has pledged unprecedented political commitment to tackle TB, as expressed in
the 2017 ‘Delhi Call for Action’ and the 2018 ‘Statement of Action’ – a bold
and very public vow to accelerate sustainable progress to end TB by 2030. That
commitment continues to be reflected in on-the-ground action, including
initiatives aimed at scaling up active case-finding, increasing nutritional
assistance for TB sufferers, addressing latent TB and enhancing investments in
research and development among other priorities.
Political resolve to tackle NCDs
has likewise been robust. As per the Colombo Declaration, which member states
adopted in 2016, each of them is committed to integrating NCD services at the
primary level, while country-specific multi-sectoral action plans to counter
the problem have been developed and rolled out region-wide. These have included
a range of groundbreaking initiatives, from nutrient labeling systems that
enhance health literacy to promoting physical activity through the provision of
outdoor gyms.
The forthcoming high-level meetings
at UN headquarters in New York provide the region significant scope to
consolidate these many gains, accelerate progress, and promote game-changing
innovations in each of these areas.
How so?
Start with TB. The high-level
meeting provides member states an open – and global – platform to highlight the
problem’s significance and present a detailed outline of how they are
addressing it. Of note is the chance to underscore the dramatic increase
high-burden countries have made in domestic funding and the accelerated progress
adequate resources from the global community could generate. While the meeting
will emphasize the need to pursue differentiated strategies according to a
country’s TB burden, of critical importance to all – whether high-burden,
medium-burden or low-burden – is harnessing greater investment in research and
development, at the same time as influencing and participating in developing
low-cost, affordable diagnostics and drugs to treat the disease.
For NCDs the stakes are similarly
high. The meeting provides member states the opportunity to highlight progress
since the first high-level UNGA meeting was held in 2011, as well as reiterate
political momentum and resolve as they reach the half-way mark in the quest to
reduce premature deaths caused by NCDs by a quarter by 2025. Importantly, it
will also provide an opportunity to highlight where more spending is needed and
how governments can be better supported in implementing their country-specific
plans. That includes by emphasizing the significance of preventive measures
that are among the most cost-effective (though underfunded) ways to deal with
the problem.
Member states region-wide are well
prepared. In recent months WHO South-East Asia has worked to support them on
technical and procedural matters associated with the meetings, and to secure
several speaking roles – as well as positions on stakeholder panels – that are
crucial to amplifying the region’s voice. That support is part of WHO
South-East Asia’s ongoing effort to work with member states to develop regional
positions on specific issues where feasible, and to ensure each country’s voice
is fully leveraged.
Given the opportunities at hand,
that outcome is vital. Even as member states region-wide make strong domestic
inroads in tackling TB and NCDs, gains must be consolidated, sustainable
progress accelerated, and innovation promoted and pursued as a matter of
priority. Each of the UNGA’s high-level meetings provide the opportunity to
make that happen. Now more than ever, by standing tall, highlighting progress
and effectively communicating their interests, member states can return from
the meetings having secured the support needed to drive lasting progress. In
the battle against both TB and NCDs, who dares will indeed win.
By Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh
Regional Director for WHO
South-East Asia
Ref; The Global New Light of
Myanmar
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