Latest news with #GlobalActionPlan
Scoop
3 days ago
- Health
- Scoop
World Health Assembly: Health Community Hails Adoption Of Climate & Health Action Plan, But Slams Fossil Fuel Omissions
Geneva, 27 May 2025 The Global Climate and Health Alliance (GCHA) today welcomed the adoption by the World Health Organization's 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) of the Global Action Plan (GAP), which will take forward last year's Resolution on Climate Change and Health, while criticising the removal of mention of fossil fuel subsidies from the text. 'We welcome the adoption of the Global Action Plan as a crucial tool for protecting human life from the impacts of climate change', said Rosie Tasker, Clean Air Liaison at the Global Climate and Health Alliance, which is made up of more than 200 organisations addressing climate change. 'This important milestone was only made possible by significant efforts by the co-facilitators and regional leaders from governments, supported by the health community'. 'However, the absence of any mention of the impacts of fossil fuels or the need for fossil fuel subsidy reform misses a key opportunity to emphasise these connections in the minds and policies of governments around the world', added Tasker. 'Crucially, its adoption marks the start of a new phase where governments and WHO are committing to accelerated action on climate and health.' Key strengths of the Global Action Plan include a call for member states to integrate health into Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs - countries' national climate commitments under the Paris Agreement) and integrate climate into national health strategies, policies and plans; a strong focus on maximising the health co-benefits of mitigation and adaptation activities across different government sectors; and a commitment to engage communities and civil society organisations in the development, implementation and evaluation of climate and health strategies. However, the plan's path to adoption was made difficult by a number of member states calling for postponement, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Russia, Bahrain, Venezuela, supported by other countries from the WHO's Eastern Mediterranean region that have been calling for the plan's postponement. But, over the course of discussions on Monday afternoon, these voices were far outweighed by more than 60 countries who took to the floor to share why it was critical to adopt the global action plan. A small number of high-income countries, including the UK, Germany, Australia and Japan, supported the action plan as a whole, but officially noted their objections to language on Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capacities (CBDR-RC), a concept included in the Paris Agreement, which calls for global solidarity in climate change responses. 'Without action to mitigate climate change through reduction of fossil fuel use, the health impacts of climate change will soon outstrip the capacities of health systems to respond', said Tasker. 'To counter this, governments must make climate a core part of national health strategies, and health a key part of countries' Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); governments must include a stronger focus on vulnerable groups such as women and children, older adults, LGBTQ, refugee and migrant populations, and people with poor mental health or disabilities.' 'The adoption of the Global Plan of Action means that governments must now recognise and respond to the profound role that climate change and its primary driver, fossil fuels, play in determining health outcomes for people around the world', concluded Tasker. About GCHA The Global Climate and Health Alliance is a consortium of more than 200 health professional and health civil society organisations and networks from around the world addressing climate change. We are united by a shared vision of an equitable, sustainable future, in which the health impacts of climate change are minimised, and the health co-benefits of climate change mitigation are maximised.
Saudi Gazette
4 days ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed leads Saudi Sports for All delegation at MESIF 2025 in London
LONDON — The Saudi Sports for All Federation (SFA), led by its President Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, participated in the Middle East Sports Investment Forum (MESIF) 2025 held on May 27–28 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Sponsored by the Saudi Ministry of Investment with strategic support from the Ministry of Sports, the forum brought together over 300 delegates, including representatives from regional sports ministries, sovereign wealth funds, and private sector entities across the MENA region. Prince Khaled praised the forum organizers and sponsors for creating a platform that brought together key stakeholders from across the GCC and beyond. 'MESIF connects the regional sports ecosystem and enables meaningful collaboration across sectors,' he noted. SFA Managing Director Shaima Al-Husseini took part in a panel discussion focused on measuring the social impact of sports. She highlighted the Federation's commitment to a data-driven approach, aligning its metrics with the World Health Organization's Global Action Plan and using national surveys, digital engagement, and community input.'Our programs reflect tangible improvements in public participation, gender equity, and long-term behavior change,' Al-Husseini said, emphasizing the Federation's role in building sustainable, inclusive sports infrastructure across Saudi forum also explored key issues such as sports finance, stadium infrastructure, innovation and technology in sports, fan engagement, and the growing intersection between tourism and sports development. — SG
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Dementia — the urgent need for India to invest in elder care
India's population is rapidly ageing. The share of individuals aged 60 or older is expected to touch 20 crore by 2031. Estimates indicate it is then projected to increase to nearly 20% of the total Indian population by 2050. With age being a major risk factor for dementia - an umbrella term for several diseases affecting memory, other cognitive abilities and behaviour that interfere significantly with a person's ability to maintain their activities of daily living - India faces an alarming potential increase in the number of people with age-related cognitive decline. In 2023, the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI) and LASI-Diagnostic Assessment for Dementia reported that the prevalence of dementia in India among individuals aged 60 and older was 7.4%, with higher rates in women and rural regions. The study estimated that by 2036, the number of cases would quadruple, touching 1.7 crore. The World Health Organization (WHO) declared dementia a public health priority in 2012 and launched a Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia (2017 – 2025) which emphasises critical areas such as dementia awareness, risk reduction, diagnosis, treatment, caregiver support, and research. As India grapples with the challenges of a rapidly growing elderly demographic, the need for specialised elder care has never been more urgent, experts say. Currently, India has a severe shortage of resources, trained caregivers, and comprehensive healthcare systems to adequately address the needs of those suffering from dementia. The first steps: risk reduction, early diagnosis Despite advances in drug development, risk reduction remains the only proven prevention tool, Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), the global federation of over 100 Alzheimer's and dementia associations, has warned. Calling on governments around the world to urgently fund dementia risk-reduction research, education, and support services, ADI has said that nearly 40% of projected dementia cases can be delayed or potentially even avoided by addressing risk factors. While 40 governments worldwide have so far developed national dementia plans, the proposal is yet to gain momentum in India. Asserting the importance of early detection, awareness and effective care systems, Thomas Gregor Issac, associate professor at the Centre for Brain Research (CBR) at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru, said there is a need for expanded healthcare infrastructure, professional training, and a national dementia policy. This will help address India's growing dementia challenge, which includes early diagnosis and treatment gaps, he said. Pointing out that dementia is often misunderstood in India, he said this was due to a lack of awareness and cultural misconceptions, which led to delayed evaluations and diagnosis. This in turn considerably impairs the quality of care. 'A large chunk of pre-dementia syndromes like mild cognitive impairment and subjective cognitive decline is often misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed and undiagnosed. While the thrust should be on better screening strategies at the community level, a national portal or dementia registry that is fully functional, ensuring patient and caregiver anonymity, but with proper medical data, blood test reports and neuroimaging data can be a wonderful resource for all researchers in the country working on different angles of this problem,' he said. A previous global survey by ADI revealed that a shocking 80% of the public still incorrectly believes that dementia is a normal part of ageing rather than a medical condition. 'In a value-driven society such as India, where intergenerational support and family ties are strongly embedded in cultural norms, help-seeking behaviour for dementia remains low. The idea of using care facilities or depending on care homes is often perceived as a failure to fulfil familial responsibilities and is associated with stigma. The absence of proper support networks for caregivers greatly increases the financial, emotional, and physical strain, which frequently results in stress, burnout, and weakened health, all of which influence the standard of care given to people with disabilities or chronic illnesses,' Dr. Issac explained. Community-level care P. T. Sivakumar, professor of psychiatry, and head of the Geriatric Psychiatry Unit at the Department of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, said dementia care requires a holistic, public health approach with a focus on prevention, early diagnosis, comprehensive post-diagnostic support, daycare, long-term care and caregiver support. Promoting public awareness to facilitate timely diagnosis, and a dementia-friendly community with adequate resources to support care were essential, he said. Dementia care should be community-based through the development of a cadre of community-based health workers, with a primary focus on integrated health and social care for the elderly population, he said. 'Increasing the investment to promote community-based healthcare of the elderly and long-term care systems is essential to prepare for the rapid growth of the elderly population in the next two decades. The development of the cadre of ASHA workers at the community level two decades ago was one of the biggest healthcare reforms for maternal and child healthcare. It is time to develop a similar cadre of health workers with a dedicated focus on the elderly population, including for dementia care,' he said. Asserting that training and capacity-building of health workers at all levels of the health system to promote dementia care was also essential, Dr. Sivakumar said there was an urgent need to develop programmes and services for dementia care under the existing policies and schemes relevant to the elderly. 'The National Mental Health Programme and the National Programme for Health Care of Elderly should be strengthened adequately to support dementia care. States with high proportions of elderly population like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, etc. need to focus on this area,' he said. NIMHANS has launched a pilot study for Amyloid PET imaging to diagnose Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia which can impair memory and significantly lower quality of life. 'A public health emergency' Ramani Sundaram, executive director of Dementia India Alliance (DIA), said despite its impact, a majority of dementia cases are identified only in the advanced stages when intervention options are limited, care costs are high, and the quality of life for individuals and their families is severely compromised. Pointing out that dementia is a public health and economic emergency, she said without early detection and intervention, India's already stretched healthcare infrastructure will bear the brunt of rising hospitalisations, emergency admissions, and long-term institutional care. Late-stage dementia care is significantly more expensive than early interventions. DIA president Radha S. Murthy said public health systems would soon be overburdened due to a lack of community-based support. 'Families suffer financially and emotionally with unplanned expenses and the demands of full-time care,' she added. According to a study published in the Indian Journal of Public Health in 2013, the cost of dementia care in India in 2010 for 37 lakh people was ₹23,300 crore annually. It was estimated that at present, families of 88 lakh people with dementia would be spending about ₹1,18,902 crore annually to take care of their kin. Based on current projections, the economic burden on households to take care of 1.7 crore people with dementia by 2036, would be a staggering ₹3, 08,395 crore annually, experts pointed out. Despite this growing crisis, India continues to lack adequate infrastructure, resources, and policies to support dementia patients and their families. Also Read: Indian Institute of Science researchers highlight India's need for national dementia policy with focus on cultural factors Need for a comprehensive policy A recent paper by researchers from CBR highlighted the need for a comprehensive dementia policy in India to address the needs of the older population and their caregivers on a national scale. This policy should prioritise effective dementia prevention strategies and equitable allocation of resources, incorporating evidence-based approaches. The policy should also integrate dementia care into both geriatric and mental health plans, stated the paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry in January this year. Establishing such a policy, the paper noted, required extensive consultations among various stakeholders and organisations, including government bodies, healthcare professionals, researchers, and individuals living with dementia and their caregivers.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Govt Misses Chance To Cut Costs, Relieve Pressure In The Health Sector
Press Release – Alzheimers New Zealand With some sensible investment in community-based support now, Government could go a long way towards reducing pressure on the health service while creating an integrated health system thats more accessible and sustainable for the long-term. 'Deeply disappointed. A missed opportunity and a short-sighted approach,' says Alzheimers NZ chief executive, Catherine Hall, when reviewing Budget 2025's investment in the health sector. As expected, Budget 2025 includes new funding for health services, including some funds to allow older people to recover or recuperate in aged residential care, rather than get stuck in a hospital bed when they don't need it. But there is nothing designed to prepare the system for the long-term impacts of the country's rapidly aging population, most of whom live at home. 'We know this Government is desperate for cost savings, hence any new investment in community-based health services was always going to be minimal. 'But New Zealand has a rapidly aging population, which is making increasing, and increasingly expensive, demands on our health system. 'With some sensible investment in community-based support now, Government could go a long way towards reducing pressure on the health service while creating an integrated health system that's more accessible and sustainable for the long-term.' Ms Hall cites dementia care as an example of a touchpoint that, if invested in prudently, would use health care funds more effectively, ensuring high-cost intensive hospital and aged residential care services are available when people need them. New Zealand's dementia rate is expected to jump by 240 percent; nearly three per cent of all New Zealanders will have dementia by 2050. But she says community dementia services, which are relatively cheap to run, are under-funded and – resourced, and can't cope as it is. 'Community dementia services cost just $11.11 a day, but because they are stretched beyond capacity, thousands and thousands of people with dementia are forced to seek the much more expensive hospital or aged residential care . 'Again, it's a question of whether we are using scarce health care resources as prudently as possible.' Ms Hall says dementia will cost the country nearly $10 billion a year [1] in inflation adjusted dollars by 2050 unless steps are taken now to mitigate the impact of this health condition. 'We are always hopeful Government will eventually see the wisdom of investing in community dementia support and in other measures that will help mitigate the worst impacts of this health condition, but Budget 2025 was another missed opportunity.' Plan to Impact On a global scale, Alzheimer's Disease International released its annual Plan to Impact report overnight which reports on the progress in implementing the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia. The report highlights the size and scale of the dementia challenge and states that time is fast running out for countries to avoid the worst impacts of the rapidly growing numbers of people. It also highlights that New Zealand continues to fall behind. 'It's really disappointing that people living with dementia here in New Zealand have less access to services that in many like countries around the world, because services here are not fairly funded,' says Ms Hall. 'While we weren't expecting any surprises in the Budget today, we're still extremely disappointed.'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Govt Misses Chance To Cut Costs, Relieve Pressure In The Health Sector
Press Release – Alzheimers New Zealand With some sensible investment in community-based support now, Government could go a long way towards reducing pressure on the health service while creating an integrated health system thats more accessible and sustainable for the long-term. 'Deeply disappointed. A missed opportunity and a short-sighted approach,' says Alzheimers NZ chief executive, Catherine Hall, when reviewing Budget 2025's investment in the health sector. As expected, Budget 2025 includes new funding for health services, including some funds to allow older people to recover or recuperate in aged residential care, rather than get stuck in a hospital bed when they don't need it. But there is nothing designed to prepare the system for the long-term impacts of the country's rapidly aging population, most of whom live at home. 'We know this Government is desperate for cost savings, hence any new investment in community-based health services was always going to be minimal. 'But New Zealand has a rapidly aging population, which is making increasing, and increasingly expensive, demands on our health system. 'With some sensible investment in community-based support now, Government could go a long way towards reducing pressure on the health service while creating an integrated health system that's more accessible and sustainable for the long-term.' Ms Hall cites dementia care as an example of a touchpoint that, if invested in prudently, would use health care funds more effectively, ensuring high-cost intensive hospital and aged residential care services are available when people need them. New Zealand's dementia rate is expected to jump by 240 percent; nearly three per cent of all New Zealanders will have dementia by 2050. But she says community dementia services, which are relatively cheap to run, are under-funded and – resourced, and can't cope as it is. 'Community dementia services cost just $11.11 a day, but because they are stretched beyond capacity, thousands and thousands of people with dementia are forced to seek the much more expensive hospital or aged residential care . 'Again, it's a question of whether we are using scarce health care resources as prudently as possible.' Ms Hall says dementia will cost the country nearly $10 billion a year [1] in inflation adjusted dollars by 2050 unless steps are taken now to mitigate the impact of this health condition. 'We are always hopeful Government will eventually see the wisdom of investing in community dementia support and in other measures that will help mitigate the worst impacts of this health condition, but Budget 2025 was another missed opportunity.' Plan to Impact On a global scale, Alzheimer's Disease International released its annual Plan to Impact report overnight which reports on the progress in implementing the Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia. The report highlights the size and scale of the dementia challenge and states that time is fast running out for countries to avoid the worst impacts of the rapidly growing numbers of people. It also highlights that New Zealand continues to fall behind. 'It's really disappointing that people living with dementia here in New Zealand have less access to services that in many like countries around the world, because services here are not fairly funded,' says Ms Hall. 'While we weren't expecting any surprises in the Budget today, we're still extremely disappointed.'
