Latest content: Health

Last week’s UN High Level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) provided an opportunity for leaders to rekindle their political commitments to achieving UHC, with a view to scaling up global efforts. But what does this mean for the Commonwealth, and where should efforts be prioritised?

This week from 5th- 7th July 2023, the Government of Zambia’s Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Commonwealth Secretariat, the Commonwealth Centre for Digital Health (CWCDH), and the World Health Organization (WHO), is hosting a 3-day workshop under the Commonwealth Technical Country Support Programme on Enhancing Digital Health Maturity.

Speaking at an event in Trinidad and Tobago aimed at tackling male violence, especially young men, The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland, KC, has called for societies to “act together” to reverse the tide of violence amongst men.

Youth leaders from across the Commonwealth have addressed Health Ministers at an intergenerational dialogue on youth mental health held in the margins of the 76th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Commonwealth Health Ministers and Heads of Delegation have reaffirmed their commitment to achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and ensuring the most vulnerable and marginalised have equal access to health services across the 56 member countries by 2030.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General, the Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, and Health Ministers from across the Commonwealth are set to meet in Geneva on Saturday, 20 May 2023, to forge a path forward on accelerating efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), during the 35th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM).

Spouses and partners of Commonwealth Heads of Government have pledged to champion advocacy and action on eliminating cervical cancer in their countries.

After several years of online meetings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, last week, members of the Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Health (CACH) met in person for the first time since 2019 to discuss and advance key areas of health priorities ahead of the 35th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) next month.

Baroness Scotland calls for innovative finance mechanisms to close fiscal space on health in national economies.

A spirited debate, delivered by passionate sports and health experts, inspired powerful conversations among the audience gathered at Marlborough House, the headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, and those gathered online.

Health Ministers from across the Commonwealth and Commonwealth Secretary-General, The Rt. Hon Patricia Scotland KC, will visit Geneva, Switzerland in May for the 35th Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM).

Cervical cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women across the Commonwealth. Having been recognized as a major health concern by the World Health Organization, it is now more important than ever that everyone - regardless of gender - contributes to the attainment of the ambitious 90-70-90 target to ensure that we are on track to eliminating cervical cancer.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is partnering with The Lancet Oncology to launch a new Commission tasked with investigating cancer care in the Commonwealth.

The theme for World Cancer Day this year is “Closing the Care Gap”. It is the same theme as last year, and indeed will be the same theme in 2024, in recognition of the deep-rooted inequities that populations face in receiving cancer care within countries, and between countries.

Whilst we still have a long way to go, progress has been made on cervical cancer in the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, PATH and the Reaching the Last Mile initiative have begun the drumbeat towards this year’s global climate summit COP28, calling for action to address the harmful impacts of climate change on health.

The Commonwealth Secretary-General has called for accelerated action in addressing stark inequities in access to quality cervical cancer screening and treatment tools, which, she says, could eliminate the disease and relegate it to history.

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.