Neljas erakorraline WHOtäitevkogu 13. üld-tööprogrammi mustandi teemal
Interventionby ESTONIA
Agenda item 3.2: StrategicPriorities
Genf, 22 november 2017
Honorable Chairperson,
Estonia aligns itself with the statement made by Maltaon behalf of the EU and its Member States, as well as with the Nordic Baltic 8statement delivered by Sweden. As this is the first time we are taking thefloor, please allow us to congratulate everyone involved in the creation ofthis very promising Draft Global Programme of Work. At its forefront is theneed to strengthen health systems to progress towards universal healthcoverage, and this focus, aligned with both the SDGs and the Tallinn Charter,is something that Estonia warmly welcomes.
Focus is key to making the Global Programme of Work successful.Estonia has great faith in WHO, but we also acknowledge that there is only somuch that WHO can do. It is for this reason that the organization mustdetermine where it needs to take action, and where it would be preferable togive way to others, so that it may better serve those who need it the most.
One area where WHO clearly does need to take action isnon-communicable diseases, so that it may ensure healthy lives and well-beingfor all. Although NCDs claim 70% of all deaths per annum, this is an area,which has been critically underfunded in WHO, despite the organization’s clearcomparative advantage on the issue. We agree with you, Director-General, that aparadigm shift is needed and that the current momentum created in Montevideomust not be wasted. We are therefore pleased to see the inclusion of this vitalfield as a flagship initiative. Successful undertakings, such as the FrameworkConvention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), have shown that WHO has the will and theexpertise to be the global leader on NCDs. Indeed, thanks to the work of WHOand its members, great strides have been made on tobacco control. As we focus and considerably step up our efforts, we expectto see similar results on other NCD risk factors. Particularly, containing the harmfuluse of alcohol, which is one of the leading behavioral contributors to theglobal disease burden, is an area that has been lagging behind. Currently, despitethe adoption of a global strategy in 2010, alcohol consumption and its relatedharms are, if anything, growing. We are confident, however, that by keeping thefocus on NCDs, including mental health, and allotting it the attention itrightfully deserves, we can turn the tide on this escalating problem.
Thank you.