The Sixteenth Meeting of the Task Force was co-hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency and WHO between 16-18 March 2021. 28 members participated.
Participants agreed further ways to support countries in their response to NCDs and mental health during and beyond COVID-19, building on what they are currently doing.
Scaling up financing for NCDs was discussed, with participants agreeing to work together to mobilize funds for the NCD and Mental Health Multi-Partner Trust Fund and advocate for countries to maximize the Global Fund support for NCDs in line with the co-infections and co-morbidities policy.
Task Force members discussed progress on tobacco control, including the Alternative Livelihood for Tobacco Farmers initiative, tobacco control in schools, illicit trade, cessation initiatives that are being scaled up during COVID-19 (AIQT and the WHO-led year-long campaign to help 100 million people quit), and how to get all UN campuses to be smoke-free, alongside ways to get members to take greater action to stop tobacco industry interference in line with the UN model policy.
Progress reports were received from a number of groups including: UN Nutrition, NCD2030, SAFER, and the Health and Climate Change Coalition. Task Force members also agreed on how to provide inputs on NCDs and malnutrition into the Small Island Developing States Summit for Health, 28-29 June 2021.
Task Force members note the positive evaluation on the work of the Task Force that came out of the mid-point evaluation of the WHO Global NCD Action, 2013-2030 and agreed to use the findings to develop the successor to the current 2019-2021 strategy.
The Task Force finalised its 2021 report to the UN Economic and Social Council and agreed to disseminate the call for nominations for the 2021 Task Force Awards widely.
A summary of the meeting with agreed actions is being finalised.