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Commonwealth Secretary General: Small island developing states need finance to tackle climate crisis

In the last few weeks, sadly, more than 150 people have died from oppressive heat in India. In Africa, while some countries are experiencing torrential rains, others are suffering from terrible droughts. At the recent Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in Geneva, collectively we considered how climate change is increasing the incidence of vector-borne diseases – not only spreading malaria but other dangerous diseases, like the recent dengue outbreak in Samoa.
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Commonwealth ministers to join forces to strengthen health systems amid escalating threats

Commonwealth health ministers, senior government officials, global health leaders and civil society groups will meet in Geneva from 24 to 25 May 2024 to examine practical interventions that will enable countries, particularly small and vulnerable states, to strengthen their health systems and recover effectively from exogenous shocks.
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Addressing the Rising Burden of Non-communicable Diseases in the Commonwealth: Full Report

The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is not equitable in the world or across the Commonwealth. NCDs are collectively responsible for the deaths of 41 million people per year, accounting for 74 per cent of deaths worldwide. Each year, 17 million people die from an NCD before the age of 70 – and almost 50 per cent of these deaths occur in Commonwealth countries. The Commonwealth is disproportionately affected by premature, preventable deaths due to NCDs, which in turn have a profound impact on economic prosperity and are a major threat to sustainable development.
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One Health Approach: Moving from Siloed Thinking to Smart and Systemic Action

9 May 2024 to 9 May 2024
(BST (UK time))
Event
The Commonwealth Secretariat and PATH are hosting an event titled "One Health Approach: Moving from Siloed Thinking to Smart and Systemic Action" on Thursday, 9 May 2024, at Marlborough House in London, UK. This event will gather esteemed global leaders, policymakers, and experts to address the critical intersection of human and planetary health.

Commonwealth Advisory Committee proposes range of health priorities for crucial Health Ministers Meeting

The Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health (CACH) has proposed a range of priority areas for health ministers to consider at the 36th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting in May this year, which will be held in the margins of the World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.
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Commonwealth health ministers to consider civil society recommendations on workforce and climate change-related health challenges

A Commonwealth association representing health professionals and activists is encouraging health ministers to seriously consider their six-point plan to improve healthcare systems as they meet at the upcoming Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM).
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Seychelles health system is bolstered by Commonwealth-WHO partnership

As the role of digital technologies becomes more critical in healthcare delivery, Seychelles has joined the list of countries seeking to assess their digital readiness using the digital health maturity assessment tool, a resource developed in partnership between the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health (CWCDH), and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Read news - Seychelles health system is bolstered by Commonwealth-WHO partnership