From 3rd February to the 11th of February, ADI attended the World Health Organization’s 156th Executive Board, advocating for an extension to the expiring Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia, as well as pushing for better inclusion of dementia in from Non-communicable disease policies, and the need for greater provisions for those living with dementia and carers in humanitarian situations.
What is the WHO Executive Board?
The WHO Executive Board is composed of 34 technically qualified individuals, each representing a Member State, who serve a term of three years. The Board meets early each year to discuss key resolutions and recommendations, that all WHO Member States will then debate at the World Health Assembly, taking place in May.
ADI’s role in the proposed extension to the GDAP
As the only non-governmental organisation (NGO) in official relations with the WHO, specifically focused on dementia, ADI plays a critical role in these proceedings to ensure that dementia remains a global public health priority.
Over the course of the eight-day session, Member States addressed a wide range of agenda items, including a report on the progress made towards the targets of the WHO Global Action Plan on the public health response to dementia, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
Following almost 18 –months of sustained advocacy, ADI, alongside key stakeholders and member associations, were successful in securing a resolution proposing a six-year extension to the plan, which was adopted at the session and received widespread support from both Executive Board Member States and non-Member States.
What is the GDAP?
The Global Action Plan on the Public Health Response to Dementia 2017-2025 was adopted by World Health Organization (WHO) Member States at the 70th World Health Assembly in May 2017. During this historic meeting, all 194 WHO Member States committed to make dementia a global priority and to achieve the targets, detailed in 7-actions areas of the Global Action Plan. 5. A ffundamental principle underpinning the Global Action Plan is that people living with dementia should be able to live to the best of their ability and with dignity and one of the primary targets is that 75% of governments should have developed a National Dementia Plan by 2025. The extension is so vital, as so far, only 42 have done so.
What’s Next for the GDAP?
While this is a significant first step, the work is far from finished. The proposed extension will now advance to the World Health Assembly in May, where all WHO Member States will have the opportunity to consider the resolution. As such, ADI will continue to engage with Member States to maintain and strengthen their support in the lead-up to the assembly. The proceedings of the Executive Board were, however, complicated by the announcement of the United States’ decision to withdraw from the WHO, resulting in an immediate budget shortfall of approximately 20%. This development sparked difficult discussions around prioritisation of existing programmes versus raising additional funds to cover the deficit.
ADI’s Voice at the WHO Executive Board
ADI Deputy CEO, Chris Lynch commented on the Executive Board:
Cautiously optimistic, is how I would describe our response to the WHO’s Executive Board recommendation to adopt the extension to the Global Action Plan. Our attention now turns to the World Health Assembly in May, where 194 Member States will have a chance to debate the extension. It is absolutely essential that we do everything we can to secure this vital global plan for the more than 55 million people living with dementia today and the forecast 139 million by 2050.
In addition to advocating for the extension of the Global Action Plan, ADI continued to draw attention to the broader global omission of dementia within Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) frameworks. Recent data published by ADI forecasts that by 2040, dementia will become the third leading cause of death globally and rank among the top 10 causes of death in 166 countries and territories. Despite these alarming projections, dementia remains absent from many policies and strategies addressing NCDs. With significant political and financial resources currently directed towards NCD prevention and management, it is essential that dementia is fully integrated into these global efforts.
ADI also highlighted the impact of humanitarian disasters and conflicts on people living with dementia and their carers. In these situations, individuals with dementia, especially those in the later stages of the condition face heightened risks including an inability to relocate, challenges in comprehending the severity of the danger around them, alongside disrupted healthcare services and care. ADI urged WHO and Member States to ensure that dementia is considered within their humanitarian response frameworks.
ADI will provide further updates as developments unfold in the lead-up to the World Health Assembly in May.