This report includes analysis from informal regional consultations in the African Region, the Caribbean and North America, Latin America, South-East Asia Region, European Region, Eastern Mediterranean Region, alongside three forums in the Western Pacific Region. It analyses the overarching similarit...ies, regional nuances and priorities raised across the six WHO regions for the meaningful engagement of individuals with lived experience.
It is the second publication in the WHO Intention to action series, which aims to enhance the limited evidence base on the impact of meaningful engagement and address the lack of standardized approaches on how to operationalise meaningful engagement. The Intention to action series aims to do this by providing a platform from which individuals with lived experience, and organizational and institutional champions, can share solutions, challenges and promising practices related to this cross-cutting agenda. The Intention to action series also aims to provide powerful narratives, inspiration and evidence towards the Fourth United Nations High Level Meeting on NCDs in 2025 and achieving the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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The World Health Organization's fact sheet on diabetes provides an overview of the disease, highlighting its increasing prevalence, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It outlines the main types of diabetes—Type 1, Type 2, and gestational diabetes—detailing their characteristics an...d risk factors. The document emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and management to prevent complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and vision loss. Preventive measures include maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and avoiding tobacco use. The fact sheet also discusses WHO's initiatives aimed at monitoring, preventing, and controlling diabetes globally.
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Stroke happens either when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off because of a blood clot, or when a brain
artery ruptures and leads to a haemorrhage. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, but most strokes can
be prevented by addressing a small number of key risk ...factors.
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Poster - Are you at risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes?
Printable Posters & Tools: Below are posters and tools you can use in your workplace to support people living with diabetes.
Download diabetes posters for your workplace - Handy tools to support people with diabetes - diabetes resources.
The Implementation toolkit for accessible telehealth services provides practical guidance to support governments, industry partners, health service providers and civil society groups in the use and implementation of the WHO-ITU Global standard for accessibility of telehealth services. The toolkit is... the result of a collaboration between the World Health Organization and the International Telecommunication Union, and was developed in response to the growing challenges that persons with disabilities and other marginalized populations experience when accessing and using telehealth platforms around the world.
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Prevention offers the greatest public health potential and the most cost-effective long-term cancer control strategy. However, with today’s multiple media streams, the general public is often overwhelmed by an abundance of confusing or ambiguous messages and misinformation on disease prevention. T...herefore, authoritative, clear, and evidence-based recommendations on how to actively contribute to cancer prevention are extremely valuable for the general public and equally valuable for health professionals and policy-makers worldwide.
Under the overall umbrella of a World Code Against Cancer Framework, using the methodology established by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the experience of developing and promoting the European Code Against Cancer 4th edition, Regional Codes Against Cancer are being developed to promote cancer prevention globally.
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Similar to other parts of the world, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in the Asia-Pacific Region has rapidly increased during the last few decades. The purposes of this pilot study were to determine the feasibility and the effects of a capacity building program for Village Health Vo...lunteers (VHVs) to support self-management in a T2DM high risk population from a rural subdistrict in Northeast Thailand. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using surveys, focus group discussions, and in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed and used to develop a 12-week capacity building program for VHVs. This program was then implemented on 60 subjects at high risk of T2DM in the selected community. According to the paired t-test and Wilcoxon-signed rank test, VHVs had higher scores on knowledge and self-efficacy of T2DM prevention after a 12 week intervention (p =.03 and p =.02, respectively). Study participants at risk for T2DM also had a significant increase in T2DM knowledge and self-management (p <.001). Implementation of the capacity building program for VHVs in Northeast Thailand was feasible. The key successes were strong community bonding, community empowerment, and support from family and public health nurses. Effects of the program should be examined with those in other Asia-Pacific countries.
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The "Assessing National Capacity for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases: Report of the 2021 Global Survey" by WHO examines the global state of readiness and infrastructure for managing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) across countries. Based on the 2021 survey, it analyzes nationa...l capabilities in public health infrastructure, policies, health systems, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NCD-related resources. The report highlights gaps and strengths in NCD prevention, treatment, and health policy integration, offering insights for improving NCD care worldwide. It emphasizes the need for multisectoral collaboration and targeted actions to meet global health goals.
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The document is an instructional guide in Portuguese on how to use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer. It provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for using the device effectively to manage respiratory conditions like asthma. The guide emphasizes the importance of correct technique, prep...aration of the inhaler, and proper administration to maximize the medication's effectiveness. It also highlights essential points for cleaning the spacer and mentions contacting a healthcare professional for additional assistance or guidance.
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The "Stories from the field" document by the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean shares effective strategies from the Eastern Mediterranean Region for addressing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health challenges, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights regio...nal success stories in mitigating NCDs and mental health conditions through innovative, country-specific interventions. The report emphasizes multisectoral collaboration, community engagement, and resilience in public health responses. It aims to inspire further action and knowledge-sharing to enhance health outcomes in challenging settings across the region.
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The document is an instructional guide in Burmese on how to use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer. It provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for using the device effectively to manage respiratory conditions like asthma. The guide emphasizes the importance of correct technique, prepara...tion of the inhaler, and proper administration to maximize the medication's effectiveness. It also highlights essential points for cleaning the spacer and mentions contacting a healthcare professional for additional assistance or guidance.
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Psychoactive drugs are substances that, when taken in or administered into one's system, affect mental processes, e.g. perception, consciousness, cognition or mood and emotions. Psychoactive drugs belong to a broader category of psychoactive substances that include also alcohol and nicotine. “Psy...choactive” does not necessarily imply dependence-producing, and in common parlance, the term is often left unstated, as in “drug use”, “substance use” or “substance abuse”.
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Global progress against cardiovascular disease (CVD) is flatlining.
Though rates of CVD deaths globally have fallen in the last three
decades, this trend has begun to stall and, without concerted
efforts, is at risk of reversing.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the second common cause of death in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) accounting for about 35% of all deaths, after a composite of communicable, maternal, neonatal, and nutritional diseases. Despite prior perception of low NCDs mortality rates, current evidence suggests t...hat SSA is now at the dawn of the epidemiological transition with contemporary double burden of disease from NCDs and communicable diseases. In SSA, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the most frequent causes of NCDs deaths, responsible for approximately 13% of all deaths and 37% of all NCDs deaths. Although ischemic heart disease (IHD) has been identified as the leading cause of CVDs mortality in SSA followed by stroke and hypertensive heart disease from statistical models, real field data suggest IHD rates are still relatively low. The neglected endemic CVDs of SSA such as endomyocardial fibrosis and rheumatic heart disease as well as congenital heart diseases remain unconquered. While the underlying aetiology of heart failure among adults in high-income countries (HIC) is IHD, in SSA the leading causes are hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy, rheumatic heart disease, and congenital heart diseases. Of concern is the tendency of CVDs to occur at younger ages in SSA populations, approximately two decades earlier compared to HIC. Obstacles hampering primary and secondary prevention of CVDs in SSA include insufficient health care systems and infrastructure, scarcity of cardiac professionals, skewed budget allocation and disproportionate prioritization away from NCDs, high cost of cardiac treatments and interventions coupled with rarity of health insurance systems. This review gives an overview of the descriptive epidemiology of CVDs in SSA, while contrasting with the HIC and highlighting impediments to their management and making recommendations.
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One of the first steps in developing a multisectoral action plan (MSAP) is to use a situation analysis to provide a comprehensive assessment of the health needs, prevailing risks and the context of the area to which the plan will apply. This will help countries, regions, provinces or cities intendi...ng to create a multisectoral action plan to align with the global commitments on targeting the four major NCDs: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases.
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Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kill more than
four million people every year and affect hundreds
of millions more. These diseases erode the health
and well-being of the patients and have a negative
impact on families and societies. Women ...and
children are particularly vulnerable, especially those
in low and middle income countries, where they are
exposed on a daily basis to indoor air pollution from
solid fuels for cooking and heating. In high income
countries, tobacco is the most important risk factor
for chronic respiratory diseases, and in some of
these countries, tobacco use among women and
young people is still increasing.
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The document, titled "Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases: Guidelines for Primary Health Care in Low-Resource Settings," provides the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommendations for managing noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic res...piratory illnesses in low-resource healthcare settings. It outlines cost-effective interventions for early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention within primary healthcare, focusing on accessible methods for diabetes management, blood pressure control, dietary and lifestyle guidance, and essential medication use. The guidelines aim to support healthcare professionals in delivering effective NCD care where resources are limited, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing NCD complications.
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The document is an instructional guide in arabic on how to use a metered-dose inhaler (MDI) with a spacer. It provides detailed, step-by-step instructions for using the device effectively to manage respiratory conditions like asthma. The guide emphasizes the importance of correct technique, preparat...ion of the inhaler, and proper administration to maximize the medication's effectiveness. It also highlights essential points for cleaning the spacer and mentions contacting a healthcare professional for additional assistance or guidance.
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The Global Breast Cancer Initiative aims to address disparities in access to care to reduce mortality rates globally. Patient navigation is an evidence-based personalized intervention designed to guide patients through often complex cancer care systems to receive timely access, particularly in low-i...ncome and minority populations. It is useful in settings with limited availability, fragmented healthcare systems and socioeconomic barriers that hinder early detection and treatment. It is proven to significantly reduce delays, improve patient adherence to care and enhance survival rates. The model involves helping individuals and their families to tackle barriers such as cultural stigma, misinformation, and psychosocial, among others, that can delay or prevent access to timely care. It can also reduce financial strain, streamline care coordination and improve the overall quality of life by connecting patients with affordable treatment options and support systems to address their needs in the course of treatment.
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