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Add to Preferred SourcesOver 500 high-level representatives, including many health ministers from the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region, will review 10 years of public health progress, address remaining and new challenges and nominate a new Regional Director at the 69th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe in Copenhagen, Denmark, on 16–19 September 2019.
Together with partners and civil society representatives, they will mark the achievements of Health 2020, the European policy for health and well-being that has driven the Region’s efforts on health towards sustainable development.
“We are at a turning point in the health status of the European Region marked by the completion of Health 2020. As we enter a new health decade, we can look back with pride at the progress achieved together, with longer and healthier life expectancy as significant impacts,” says Dr. Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe.
Health 2020 has been a forerunner of 2030’s Sustainable Development Goals, focusing on issues such as the right to health, universal health coverage, social determinants, equity, people-centered systems, well-being and resilience.
The last European Health Report acknowledges that a great deal has been achieved since Health 2020 was adopted in 2012. The proportion of countries in the Region with a comprehensive national health plan aligned with Health 2020 increased from 36.4% in 2010 to 62.7% in six years. This resulted in an increase in life expectancy and reductions in premature mortality. At the same time, smoking, alcohol, overweight and obesity, and under-vaccination are still hindering progress in some countries.
“It is now time to fast-track our successes and address the remaining challenges that still hold back the most vulnerable from attaining their full health potential,” adds Dr. Jakab.
Her Royal Highness, The Crown Princess of Denmark; WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; and Anne Bucher, Director-General, European Commission, Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety, will address the Regional Committee.
Original source: WHO
Published on 16 September 2019