WHO to accelerate action on health agenda at UNGA High-Level Week

22 September 2025, Cairo, Egypt - The World Health Organization (WHO) will play an important role at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High-level Week, from 22 to 30 September 2025, where global leaders will gather to accelerate progress on the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Health will be a central theme, with Heads of State and governments meeting on 25 September 2025 to set a new vision for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the promotion of mental health and well-being towards 2030 and beyond through a new, ambitious political declaration.

The declaration will reaffirm the global commitment to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030 and to expand access to mental health services. It will also outline a 5-year action plan featuring priority, evidence-based and cost-effective interventions to reduce the burden of NCDs, strengthen mental health systems and advance universal health coverage.

NCDs are a major health issue both globally and regionally. They account for 74% of global deaths, while mental health conditions affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide. In the Eastern Mediterranean Region, NCDs claim 2.8 million lives annually, and mental health challenges persist. Both NCD and mental health conditions are compounded by conflict, displacement and chronic under-investment.

WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean Dr Hanan Balkhy will represent the Region at UNGA alongside a technical delegation. "The WHO is committed to supporting countries in achieving the SDGs and reducing premature mortality from NCDs," said Dr Balkhy. "At the regional level, we are also committed to reducing the burden of NCDs and mental health conditions. We call on global leaders to invest in health systems that deliver essential services to all people, everywhere."

Dr Balkhy's participation will focus on:

showcasing regional progress and challenges in eradicating polio and hepatitis and addressing NCDs and mental health;

linking global commitments to regional realities; and

strengthening donor visibility and reinforcing partnerships with regional and international stakeholders.

Other key health events at UNGA

Health will feature prominently across several other high-impact events during UNGA. The High-Level Week's agenda includes the "100 Days Mission" of the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) on harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to prevent future pandemics, and the Concordia Summit roundtable on the healing power of social connection. The week will also see the launch of WHO's Mental Health Atlas 2024 and the World Mental Health Today report.

Discussions will explore the intersection of climate change and health, the future of digital health systems and the role of AI in emergency preparedness. A high-level roundtable on health taxes, hosted by Bloomberg, will bring together Heads of State to discuss fiscal strategies for healthier societies. A dedicated side event on childhood cancer will spotlight global efforts to improve care and outcomes for children with cancer.

On 23 September, as part of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, a high-level side event titled "Revolutionizing Care for Noncommunicable Diseases: Expanding Access through Primary Health Care" will be held. Co-organized by the Governments of Saudi Arabia and Mexico, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean and Pan American Health Organization, the event will spotlight how primary health care can transform NCD management, reduce economic burdens and improve well-being. Ministers of health, global leaders and partners will share successful strategies and initiatives to advance equitable, people-centered care.

Another side event, "Unity in Wellness: Advancing Peace through Global Health", will spotlight the Global Health and Peace Initiative (GHPI), a WHO initiative co-led by Oman and Switzerland. GHPI aims to strengthen the link between health and peace, showing how improvements in one can drive progress in the other.