26–28 February 2025, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – The World Well being Group (WHO) Regional Workplace for the Jap Mediterranean and the Nationwide Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) in Abu Dhabi, a WHO collaborating centre for substance use, are convening a high-level coverage dialogue to strengthen the general public well being response to substance use within the Area. The assembly, which is a part of WHO Regional Director for the Jap Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy’s flagship initiative on accelerating public well being motion on substance use, will collect key stakeholders from 26 to twenty-eight February 2025 at Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi.
Pressing want for motion
The Jap Mediterranean Area faces a rising substance use drawback, with opioid use significantly widespread. Substance use is linked to a variety of extreme well being points, together with elevated danger of psychological well being situations, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, overdoses and suicides. In line with the 2024 World Drug Report, 6.7% of the inhabitants within the Area report utilizing medication, exceeding the worldwide common of 5.6%, and the variety of individuals with drug use problems has elevated greater than two-fold since 1990, reaching an estimated 3.4 million in 2019.
The therapy hole within the Area is substantial, with just one in 13 individuals with substance use problems receiving the mandatory care. The coverage dialogue seeks to deal with this pressing want and chart a course in the direction of more practical interventions.
Collaborative options for a more healthy Area
Over 3 days, expert-led discussions will deal with strengthening well being methods, shaping impactful insurance policies and implementing sustainable early intervention and hurt discount programmes to make sure the combination of substance use therapy into broader well being care frameworks.
Subjects individuals will look at embrace:
strengthening well being methods and enhancing availability and entry by guaranteeing satisfactory assets and infrastructure are in place;
integrating substance use therapy into main well being care and different well being care settings;
growing sturdy insurance policies, knowledgeable by the newest proof and finest observe, that prioritize prevention, therapy and restoration and cut back stigma;
boosting hurt discount by increasing entry to hurt discount programmes to attenuate the unfavorable impacts of substance use; and
integrating core indicators in nationwide well being and social care data methods.
A shared imaginative and prescient for change
“Addressing substance use requires a collaborative method that connects well being methods, coverage frameworks and community-based interventions,” says Chief Govt Officer of the Nationwide Rehabilitation Centre Yousef Altheeb Alketbi. “This dialogue is an important alternative to align our efforts, share experience and generate actionable options that may strengthen the Area’s means to reply successfully.”
WHO Regional Director for the Jap Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy provides: “We should tackle vital gaps in our insurance policies, laws and repair supply to forestall substance use, promote psychological well being, empower individuals with lived expertise, have interaction communities, present therapy and facilitate restoration. Over the subsequent 3 days, we purpose to develop a consensus assertion on the implementation of the regional flagship initiative – one that’s knowledgeable by real-world experiences and the most effective out there proof”.
United Arab Emirates: a frontrunner in international well being
NRC’s internet hosting of the dialogue exemplifies the UAE’s dedication to international well being management. By fostering worldwide collaboration and advancing progressive public well being options, the UAE reinforces its imaginative and prescient of a more healthy, extra resilient group, one through which prevention, therapy and rehabilitation are integral elements of a complete nationwide technique.
Concerning the World Well being Group
Devoted to the well-being of all individuals and guided by science, the World Well being Group leads and champions international efforts to present everybody, in all places an equal likelihood at a wholesome life.
Based in 1948, WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for public well being inside the United Nations, connecting nations, companions and other people to advertise well being, preserve the world protected and serve the weak so that everybody, in all places can attain the best degree of well being.
The WHO Regional Workplace for the Jap Mediterranean, primarily based in Cairo, Egypt, is one in all 6 WHO regional places of work. It serves 21 nations and the occupied Palestinian territory (together with East Jerusalem), with a mixed inhabitants of almost 745 million individuals.
Concerning the Nationwide Rehabilitation Centre
Managed by PureHealth’s Medical Workplace, the NRC is the UAE’s main authority on dependancy therapy. In 2017, it was acknowledged by WHO as a collaborating centre.
By means of analysis, innovation and strategic partnerships, NRC strengthens prevention, therapy and public consciousness efforts and advances evidence-based options in collaboration with authorities and semi-government entities.
Concerning the regional flagship initiative
To strengthen help to Member States, WHO’s Regional Director has launched 3 flagship initiatives: i) increasing equitable entry to medical merchandise; ii) investing in a resilient and sustainable well being workforce, and iii) accelerating public well being motion on substance use.
The initiatives tackle key bottlenecks and priorities to speed up progress in the direction of reaching the health-related Sustainable Growth Targets and function accelerators for WHO’s Strategic Operational Plan for the Jap Mediterranean Area 2025–2028.
WHO’s flagship initiative on accelerating public well being motion on substance use goals to scale back morbidity, mortality and the social prices related to substance use problems by way of contextualized, evidence-based public well being interventions in secure and emergency settings.
For extra data, contact:
Dr Asmus Hammerich
Director, Noncommunicable Illnesses and Psychological Well being, WHO EMRO
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Dr Khalid Saeed
Regional Adviser, Psychological Well being and Substance Use Programme
Division of Noncommunicable Illnesses and Psychological Well being
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Dr Wafaa Elsawy
Technical Officer, Psychological Well being and Substance Use Programme
Division of Noncommunicable Illnesses and Psychological Well being
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Dr Dalia Elasi
Advisor, Psychological Well being and Substance Use Programme
Division of Noncommunicable Illnesses and Psychological Well being
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