Background
The World Health Organization, the Pan American Health Organization and the Government of Barbados are co-hosting a high-level technical meeting on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health in recognition of the high burden of
NCDs and the impact of climate and COVID-19 on health and economies in Small Island Developing States. The meeting will serve as a follow up to the virtual WHO SIDS Summit for Health held in July 2021 and will be a precursor to the Ministerial Conference
on NCDs and mental health in SIDS due to be held in June 2023.
The SIDS High-Level Technical meeting will be webcast for virtual participants and will look to engage heads of state and government, ministers of health from the WHO SIDS Member States, as well as technical experts from key regional and subregional bodies;
partner governments and agencies; civil society; youth; public–private partnerships and academia.
Purpose
To build political momentum for the SIDS Ministerial Conference on NCDs and Mental Health to be held in June 2023 and to promote increased domestic action and international cooperation on NCDs and mental health in SIDS.
Objectives
- To discuss progress, challenges, and opportunities to scale up multisectoral actions on NCDs and mental health to promote well-being, as part of the commitments made under the SIDS Health Summit 2021 and the SIDS Accelerated Modalities
of Action (SAMOA) Pathway. - To present and discuss the WHO NCD Implementation Roadmap 2030 and its application in SIDS countries, while considering priorities such as the impact of climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic, to accelerate national responses towards
SDG target 3.4 on NCDs and mental health. - To share experiences from SIDS countries on multisectoral and multistakeholder strategies, especially on NCDs and mental health as they relate to climate change, health emergencies, the COVID-19 pandemic, obesity
prevention and food systems, among others; and to present the feasibility of adapting and applying these experiences in other countries. - To discuss and identify key recommendations to be included in the outcome document to be endorsed/adopted by the subsequent SIDS ministerial meeting to scale up action on NCDs and mental health.
Expected outcome
A meeting report with key recommendations, to serve as the zero draft for the negotiated outcome document of the Ministerial Conference of SIDS on the Prevention and Control of NCDs and Mental Health in June 2023 which will again take
place in Barbados.
Date: 17–18 January 2023
Time: 09:00–17:30 Atlantic time (GMT -4)
Language: The working language of the meeting will be English, and interpretation will be provided in French and Spanish.
High-level Policy Expert Group formed to advise the SIDS high-level meetings on NCD and mental health
A High-level Policy Expert Group (HLPEG) was formed to provide strategic expert guidance to the SIDS high-level technical meeting and ministerial conference on NCD and mental health. The Group will have a special focus on channeling inputs into the preparatory
process to the 4th UN High Level meeting on NCDs in 2025 based on the proceedings of the SIDS meetings.
The High-level Policy Expert Group will:
- Provide advice to WHO and the High-Level Steering Committee in relation to NCD and Mental Health in SIDS and preparation of the SIDS meeting.
- Review the inputs and recommendations of the Programme Committee and related subcommittees and provide independent strategic expert guidance to the technical meeting and ministerial conference.
- Provide advice with a specific focus on how the meetings and their outputs can inform the path towards the 4th UN high level meeting on NCDs.
- Provide strategic advice on political advocacy for NCD and Mental Health in SIDS.
The High-level Policy Expert Group is co-chaired by Sir George Alleyne, Director Emeritus of the Pan American Health Organization and Sir Colin Tukuitonga, Director-General of the Pacific Community, with support from a Secretariat led by WHO. Nominated
members of the Group comprise eminent regional and global leaders in public health representing the unique perspectives of SIDS Member States.
