Get moving, eat healthy: Investing in young people to address risk factors for cancers and other non-communicable diseases

Event date: 16 November 2023, 10:00 - 12:00 (GMT)
People running laps in a sports stadium

The Commonwealth Secretariat is hosting a hybrid event at Marlborough House in London during London Global Cancer Week (LGCW 2023), to be staged from 11 - 17 November 2023.

The event on Thursday, 16 November 2023, provides an opportunity to raise awareness around non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and the need for Commonwealth countries to accelerate progress in the reduction of diseases, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity.

The event will also see the launch of the new Commonwealth Youth Focused Guiding Framework for Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which focuses on addressing behavioural change among young people, and targets two risk factors -physical inactivity and unhealthy diets. The Commonwealth Secretariat's intention is to add value in the race towards NCD Countdown 2030.

Speakers will include the Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, as well as other dignitaries and representatives from other partnership organisations. The event will include a keynote address by the First Lady of Zanzibar, HE Mariam Mwinyi.

Other activities Include:

  • Physical activity exercises to warm up
  • High-level panel discussion on shared risk factors for NCDs, including physical inactivity and unhealthy diets
  • Roadmap of implementation and uptake from Commonwealth countries

As it is the Year of the Youth, participants will continue to explore these discussions through a youth-focused lens.

The event will offer a platform for health ministers, high commissioners, health officials, researchers and advocates to review progress on tackling the root causes of NCDs in the Commonwealth and explore tailored prevention strategies.

Register your interest to attend



Media contact

  • Ijeoma Onyeator  Communications Officer, Communications Division, Commonwealth Secretariat

  • E-mail