The 146th session of the Executive Board took place at WHO headquarters in Geneva on 3-8 February 2020. At this meeting, members agree on the agenda and resolutions to be considered at this year’s World Health Assembly.
Topics under discussion this year include WHO’s response in severe, large-scale emergencies; research and development for diseases with epidemic potential; antimicrobial resistance; poliomyelitis; principles for global consensus on the donation and management of blood, blood components and medical products of human origin; and promoting the health of migrants.
The World Federation of Neurology was present, as a WHO Non-State Actor, and was represented by WFN President Prof. William M Carroll speaking at the Plenary session on Epilepsy.
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Attending the 146th Session of the WHO Executive Board Meeting in Geneva
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WHO Geneva, February 6th 2020 - The World Federation of Neurology successfully supported the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE) in the adoption of a decision by the WHO Executive Board in relation to epilepsy and other neurological disorders. Support for the draft decision proposed by the Russian Federation and co-sponsored by China and Guyana and many other member states including the European Union was overwhelming.
This is the first time that neurological disorders have been referred to collectively in a WHO decision and provides an opportunity to promote neurological disorders including inequities of access to quality neurological care within the global organisation. It also provides significant impetus to the longstanding campaign the ILAE has conducted to have epilepsy considered a public health imperative and the adoption of coordinated care campaigns.
The WFN acknowledges the hard work done by the ILAE, it’s President, Prof Samuel Wiebe, the Russian Federation and Dr Alla Guehkt, WFN trustee.
Prof. William M Carroll
WFN President
WFN Statement on Agenda item: 6 (EB146/5) Primary Health Care
The World Federation of Neurology welcomes the planned submission of the draft operational framework from Asana, Khazakstan, and subsequent modification following consultations, to the 73rd WHA.
The Declaration of Astana commits Member States to primary health care as a cornerstone of sustainable health systems for the achievement of universal health coverage and the health-related Sustainable Development Goals by:
- making bold political choices for health,
- building sustainable primary health care,
- empowering individuals and communities,
- and aligning stakeholder support to national policies, strategies and plans.
These are indeed laudable and potentially attainable goals which the WFN fully endorses as they align with those of the WFN.
In support of these goals, the WFN strongly urges the Executive Board to request consideration by the 73rd WHA of broadening the scope of activities to extend beyond governments, as indicated in Section 19 of the Draft Operational Framework, and actively work with those Non-State Actors with global reach and influence in this field of endeavour and others with similar goals, to create a wider and deeper front with which to advocate for more effort and awareness of the need to change resource allocation at national and regional levels in order to have both a bottom-up as well as a top-down promotional policy.
Excerpt from Report by the Director-General
Agenda item: 7.1 EB146/6: Follow-up to the high-level meetings of the United Nations General Assembly on health-related issues
Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world
The landmark political declaration of the high-level meeting on universal health coverage entitled “Universal health coverage: moving together to build a healthier world”1 is the most comprehensive set of health commitments ever adopted at this level and a powerful statement of the world we want. Heads and representatives of State and Government showed strong political vision and commitment to ensuring universal health coverage for the people they serve. In paragraph 13 of the declaration, United Nations Member States recognized the importance of primary health care as “the cornerstone of a sustainable health system for universal health coverage and health-related Sustainable Development Goals”. World leaders have committed themselves to leadership across policy areas within and beyond the health sector in order to achieve objectives for universal health coverage within Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages). In paragraphs 6, 20, 55 and 59, the political declaration explicitly emphasizes the roles that governments and all stakeholders should take. It sets out a road map of commitments: “to progressively cover 1 billion additional people by 2023 with … safe, effective, affordable and essential medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and health technologies, with a view to covering all people by 2030” ; 2 and “to stop the rise and reverse the trend of catastrophic out-of-pocket health expenditure by providing measures to ensure financial risk protection and eliminate impoverishment due to health-related expenses by 2030, with special emphasis on the poor as well as those who are vulnerable or in vulnerable situations”.3
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- United Nations General Assembly resolution 74/2, adopted 10 October 2019.
- United Nations General Assembly resolution 74/2, paragraph 24(a).
- United Nations General Assembly resolution 74/2, paragraph 24(b).
WFN Statement on Agenda item: 7.1 EB146/6
These are indeed laudable and potentially attainable goals which the WFN fully endorses as they align with those of the WFN.
In support of these goals, the WFN strongly urges the EB in its acceptance of the DG’s report to request consideration of broadening the scope of activities to extend beyond governments to those NSA with global reach and influence in this field of endeavour and others with similar goals, to create a wider and deeper front with which to advocate for more effort and awareness of the need to change resource allocation at national and regional level in order to have both a bottom-up as well as a top-down promotional policy.
WFN Statement on Agenda item: 11 (EB146/12) Epilepsy Draft Decision Report by the Director-General
As President of the World Federation of Neurology representing 122 member societies and virtually every neurologist in the world, I know we understand the importance of this matter and that of brain health generally. The World Federation of Neurology supports the draft decision on this matter proposed by the Russian Federation and co-sponsored by China and Guyana.
The World Federation of Neurology in concert with other relevant Non-State Actors notes the 2019 Global Report “Epilepsy as a public health imperative” and urges the adoption of this draft decision including
- the request to the Director-General to expand the scope of report EB146/12 to be presented at the 73rd session of the WHA with an additional consideration of “Synergies in addressing the burden of epilepsy and other neurological disorders”
- include a set of essential immediate actions to strengthen country actions against epilepsy and its comorbidities in the WHO Technical Policy Brief on Epilepsy to be finalized by the Director-General and
- encourage Member States and relevant Non-State Actors to contribute to discussions on the “Draft resolution on epilepsy and other neurological disorders” based on the report mentioned in paragraph 2 to be presented for consideration by the 73rd WHA.
WFN Statement on Agenda item: 16.1 (EB146/11) Poliomyelitis. Polio eradication.
As President of the WFN I speak on behalf of 122 member Societies which represent all neurologists in the World.
The WFN notes the report updating the status of polio eradication in relation to three key goals of the Polio Endgame Strategy 2019-2023. The report is to be commended for its clarity in defining the areas of continuing risk, the strains involved and the strategies being modified to meet the risk.
Wild type polio appears confined to type 1 polio virus in parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan which increased during 2019. The newly created “hub” in Amman with oversight responsibility should assist the response to this recrudescence.
Vaccine derived poliomyelitis is of more concern. Genetically-distinct circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 strains continue to spread across West, Central and the Horn of Africa. Believed related to inadequate mucosal immunity from bivalent polio virus type 2 vaccine the containment of spread appears to depend on the use of monovalent type 2 oral vaccine and the anticipated deployment of a novel oral polio type 2 vaccine. (Isolated cases of wild type and vaccine-derived polio have been detected in parts of Asia).
The WFN applauds the WHO strategy to contain the spread of type 2 vaccine-derived polio and to restrict or prevent the development of new strains of type 2 vaccine-derived polio in these relatively under-resourced areas. Successful prosecution of these strategies will prevent further neurological morbidity while the report itself will assist member states involved and interested Non-State Actors to act collaboratively and successfully and importantly to harness public opinion to support country-level member state initiatives.
WFN Statement on Agenda item: 17 (EB146/23) Decade of Healthy Ageing
Decade of Healthy Ageing is a world in which everyone can live a longer and healthier life and is the vision of the Global strategy and action plan on ageing and health. This proposal is linked to the three priority directions of the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing and reflects the pledge in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind.
Understandably it is proposed as a global collaboration bringing together diverse sectors and stakeholders including governments, civil society, international organizations, professionals, academic institutions, the media and the private sector. Its focus on four areas which are more modest in aspiration and practically achievable, however, represents the recognition that implicit in “the decade” is the goal of whole-of-life health.
These four areas
- changing how we think, feel and act towards age and ageing;
- developing communities in ways that foster the abilities of older people;
- delivering person-centred integrated care and primary health services responsive to older people;
- providing older people who need it with access to long-term care;
in effect represent desired improvements in quality of life and respect for age, for those who have lived in health to older age, than just actual health.
The World Federation of Neurology sees “the decade” as a call for improved brain and mental health throughout life accompanied by optimal quality of life and so supports this initiative.
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