Latest content: Health

Stakeholders from across the Commonwealth shared inspiring and compelling messages calling for increased screening, vaccination, and heightened awareness to reduce the burden of cervical cancer.

Delegates at a two-day Commonwealth conference have outlined strategies and actions to achieve true equity and inclusion for all persons with disabilities.

The Commonwealth Secretariat has launched a new framework that offers governments a practical guide to addressing the rising burden of cancers and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

A high-level event on the intersection of climate change and mental health has considered how policymakers can best address the needs of vulnerable people, especially vulnerable women.

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).

Guest blog by Salome Mosha and Gideon Gachihi, Commonwealth youth leaders and mental health advocates.

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.