WHO Office at the United Nations commemorated World Health Day 2016 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 7 April with a series of activities. Dr Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the WHO Office at the United Nations (WUN), held a press briefing to introduce the first WHO Global report on diabetes and to outline the significance of this year’s World Health Day in helping achieve the global Sustainable Development Goal 3 target of reducing premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) by one-third by the year 2030.
WUN also collaborated with the UN Medical Service to offer UN staff a free practical diabetes risk assessment with the option for follow-up consultations and screening tests throughout the day and during the week of 11–15 April. Additionally, UN catering services participated in the awareness raising campaign, by serving a diabetes friendly lunch menu and making available to UN delegates and staff the WHO placemat quiz on diabetes throughout the day in the UN cafeteria and cafes.
The day culminated with an evening reception hosted by WUN for UN Member States, UN system colleagues and external partners, to showcase simple measures to prevent diabetes and NCDs as a whole. Guests were introduced to delicious healthy meals and fun indoor cycling as a means to encourage healthy eating and physical activity.
Participants including Ambassadors Mr E. Courtenay Rattray, Permanent Representative of Jamaica to the UN, Mr Ib Petersen, Permanent Representative of Denmark to the UN, Ms Sylvie Lucas, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the UN, and key partners, Mr José Luis Castro, Chair of the NCD Alliance Steering Group and Dr David Nabarro, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on the SDGs, via a video message, highlighted the burden of diabetes and pledged their political support to halt the rise of and improve support for people with diabetes. They also stressed on the need for concerted effort among all partners as well as cultural considerations when designing effective policies and tools to beat diabetes.
Watch the press conference on World Health Day 2016
Read the WHO Global report on diabetes
WHO Director-General’s video message