79th WHA Individual Statements
Agenda Item No 12.1: Follow-up to the political declaration of the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases
Documents A79/5, A79/INF./6 and EB158/2026/REC/1, resolution EB158.R1, decisions EB158(1) and EB158(2)
Chair, Distinguished Delegates,
As we move from commitments to delivery of the 2025 Political Declaration on NCDs, we urge WHO and Member States to ensure implementation includes stronger action through primary health care and community-based approaches, with a focus on equity and integration.
In this context, we underscore self-care as a practical, people-centred approach to strengthen NCD prevention and long-term management—when enabled by health systems, supported by trusted information and health literacy, and backed by quality-assured, affordable access to essential medicines, technologies and services. We also welcome the draft resolution on Steatotic Liver Disease, where self-care embedded in health policy can support early detection, increase prevention, and reinforce primary care and community-level action.
We encourage WHO and Member States to integrate self-care into national NCD strategies and PHC, with attention to continuity of care, reaching people earlier, and ensuring underserved communities benefit first.
Thank you.