Latest content: Health

The Commonwealth Secretariat marked London Global Cancer Week by hosting a high-level event to reflect on the Commonwealth’s commitment to eliminating cervical cancer as a public health problem.

Consumption of trans fat is closely linked to the increase in cardiovascular diseases and death. It is estimated to cause more than half a million deaths, globally, every year.

Young people are invited to take part in a consultation looking at noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in the under-30 demographic across the Commonwealth.

Solidarity and greater collaboration between countries and multilateral organisations when tackling major health challenges, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, are key to addressing the widening health inequalities which continue to be observed across the world, the Commonwealth Secretary-General has said at a gathering of top experts and policymakers from the global health community.

The Commonwealth People’s Forum — the largest gathering of civil society in the Commonwealth — convened leading experts on public health, finance and Covid-19 response to discuss how to fund resilient national health systems in the wake of the pandemic.

Cancer survivors were given the unique opportunity to share their journeys with spouses and partners of Commonwealth Heads of Governments and Foreign Ministers at a luncheon on cervical cancer elimination.

Commonwealth leaders have met to discuss anti-microbial resistance (AMR), which poses a serious threat to human, animal, plant and environmental health, as well as food safety and food security.  

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Although treatable and preventable, cervical cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in some countries. Leading experts have called on governments to accelerate cervical cancer elimination efforts across the Commonwealth, where it is estimated that one woman will die of cervical cancer every three minutes if no action is taken by 2030.

As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, access to essential health services must be a priority. On International Day of Action for Women’s Health, we call on governments to urgently address the increasing inequities women face when seeking healthcare

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, addressed the World Health Assembly, making a strong case for vaccine equity and unity in delivering resilience in health systems following the COVID-19 pandemic and aiding a faster economic recovery.

Health Ministers from the Commonwealth have issued a joint statement on post-COVID recovery efforts following the conclusion of their annual meeting. They agreed to collaborate on several key issues including vaccine equity, building resilient health systems, and bolstering health security through harnessing digital technology.

In 2018, Commonwealth leaders committed to halving malaria by 2023. Despite significant efforts to maintain malaria programming through the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commonwealth is off-track to meet that commitment, the 2022 Commonwealth Malaria Report has revealed

The 34th edition of the Commonwealth Health Ministers’ Meeting (CHMM) opened yesterday with a call from ministers for governments to build sustainable and resilient health systems that can withstand future crises and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) goals towards global health security.

Ministers of Health from the Commonwealth are set to meet on the 17th and 19th of May for their annual meeting to discuss lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery efforts.

As we mark World Malaria Day today, urgent action must be taken to accelerate progress towards our elimination goals.

As we mark World Health Day under the theme ‘Our Planet, Our Health’, we are reminded of the urgency to catalyse ambitious targets to build low-carbon and climate-resilient health systems to enable net zero emissions and ensure the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As we look towards CHOGM in June where Commonwealth Heads of Government will renew commitments set in 2018 to halve malaria by 2023 and accelerate access to quality eye care for all by 2020, seven countries convened earlier this month to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on malaria and trachoma programmes.

The Commonwealth Secretariat and global non-profit PATH are joining forces to ensure equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines across the Commonwealth, while also striving to eliminate malaria and address other public health challenges.

International HPV Awareness Day is a timely reminder to recognise young people as Commonwealth change agents, whose efforts will undoubtedly be a force for good on our road to eliminating HPV and making cervical cancer a thing of the past

Memorandum of Understanding agreement signed today focuses on ending the COVID-19 pandemic, advancing Universal Health Coverage, addressing vaccine equity, strengthening digital health systems and working towards global health security