Statement to the 76th Regional Committee for Africa - UHC

World Obesity's statement to the seventy-sixth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa addresses agenda item 18.8, the progress report on the Framework for sustaining resilient health systems to achieve Universal Health Coverage and promote health security 2023–2030.

Delivered on behalf of World Obesity by Brenda Chitindi of the Zambia Heart and Stroke Foundation, the statement welcomes the progress report but urges member states to go further by integrating obesity prevention and management into Universal Health Coverage. With adult obesity already exceeding thirty percent in several African countries, and obesity a major driver of other noncommunicable diseases including diabetes, heart disease and cancer, addressing it within primary health coverage offers a "double dividend" — improving health outcomes while tackling the root cause of multiple conditions.

The statement also calls for the meaningful involvement of people with lived experience of obesity in the design and delivery of these services, to ensure programmes are non-stigmatising, patient-centred and trusted by the communities they serve.