Webinar ‘People at the center: challenges and solutions of PLWNCDS during the COVID-19 pandemic’

According to World Health Organization, People living with or affected by major non-communicable diseases (NCD) and conditions: such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes, appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the COVID-19. Several risk factors attributable to NCDs also make people vulnerable to the virus, and obesity-related conditions seem to worsen the effect of COVID-19. Mental health disorders such as anxiety or depression may emerge, or they may worsen as a result of pandemics, and COVID-19 is no exception. Recognising that people living with NCDs (PLWNCDs) appear to be worst hit by this pandemic and more susceptible to becoming severely ill with COVID–19, the Civil Society Working Group on NCDs proposes to conduct two global webinars in June, 2020 with an overall aim to Strengthen call for resilient health systems, infrastructure and health services for NCD prevention, management and control during COVID-19, in the context of Universal Health Coverage and Health-in-All Policies. The webinar will identify opportunities that can be leveraged to reach out to the affected political leaders to be champions for the intersection of NCDs with COVID-19. These discussions, if established, will help build a powerful narrative, calling out for identifying synergistic pathways to address the current public health emergency and the NCD epidemic.

Speakers include: Princess Dina Mired, President, Union for International Cancer Control Johanna Ralston, CEO, World Obesity Federation Karen Sealey, National Coordinator of the Trinidad and Tobago NCD Alliance Kate Swaffer, Chair, CEO and Co-founder, Dementia Alliance International Essel Cudjoe, Our Views Our Voices advocate, Ghana Abish Romero, Our Views, Our Voices advocate from Mexico Nalin Mann, Young PLWNCD and Our Views Our Voices advocate from India Kwanele Asante, Lawyer and Bioethicist African Organization for Research & Training in Cancer