Responding to non-communicable diseases during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic: examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases

Responding to non-communicable diseases during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases WHO/2019-nCoV/Non-communicable_diseases/Actions/2020.1 © World Health Organization and the United Nations Development Programme, 2020 Some rights reserved. This work is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 IGO licence (CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO; https://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/igo). Under the terms of this licence, you may copy, redistribute and adapt the work for non-commercial purposes, provided the work is appropriately cited, as indicated below. In any use of this work, there should be no suggestion that WHO or UNDP endorses any specific organization, products or services. The unauthorized use of the WHO or UNDP names or logos is not permitted. 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The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no event shall WHO or UNDP be liable for damages arising from its use.   Graphic design by Zsuzsanna Schreck. Front and back cover image: © CDC 3Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases This document lists examples of NCD-relevant actions being taken by agencies, funds and programmes to support countries in COVID-19 response and recovery. Opportunities to increase, build upon and further apply these actions to NCDs should be pursued, including for “building back better”. Agencies, funds and programmes should ensure that their support for NCDs is aligned with the United Nations comprehensive response to COVID-19, which comprises: • the strategic preparedness and response plan, with its two main objectives: (i) preparing for and responding to COVID-19; and (ii) maintaining essential health services during response and recovery(1), led by WHO; • the global humanitarian response plan, which provides the immediate humanitarian response to the most vulnerable people in the most vulnerable countries with life- saving assistance (2), led by the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs; and • the United Nations framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19, with five core areas of socio-economic support: (i) health first: protecting health services and systems during the crisis; (ii) protection of people: social protection and basic services; (iii) economic response and recovery: protecting jobs, small and medium-sized enterprises and informal sector workers; (iv) macroeconomic response and multilateral collaboration; and (v) social cohesion and community resilience (3), led by UNDP. Partners in the SDG 3 Global action plan for healthy lives and well-being for all (4) can ensure that action on NCDs does not slow down during the COVID-19 pandemic and that NCD-related activities are extended as part of building back better. We cannot go back to the same health system models which have failed the majority of people living with NCDs. We need to build back better. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, WHO Agencies, funds and programmes should ensure that their action on NCDs is aligned with the United Nations comprehensive response to COVID-19. 4Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Fig. 1: Joint operational strategies against COVID-19 for the United Nations family and partners Strategic objectives Partners Rapidly establish international coordination and operations support1 Scale up country preparedness and response operations2 Accelerate priority research and innovation3 200+ governments, international and nongovernmental organizations, research institutes and businesses 2. HUMANITARIAN: GLOBAL HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE PLAN COVID-19 Contain the spread of the COVID-19 and decrease morbidity and mortality rates1 Decrease the deterioration of human assets and rights, social cohesion and livelihoods 2 Protect, assist and advocate for refugees, internally displaced people, migrants and vulnerable communities 3 Protect health services and systems during the crisis1 Protect people and social and basic services2 Facilitate macroeconomic responses and multilateral collaboration4 Protect jobs, small and medium-sized enterprises and the informal sector3 Support social cohesion and community resilience5 60+ international and nongovernmental organizations 165+ national institutions in countries and territories with UN entities, development partners, donors, private sector partners and civil society groups 1. HEALTH: 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (2019-nCoV): STRATEGIC PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN 3. DEVELOPMENT: A UN FRAMEWORK FOR THE IMMEDIATE SOCIO-ECONOMIC RESPONSE TO COVID-19 5Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases World Health Organization As the United Nations specialized agency for health, WHO leads and coordinates the response of the United Nations system to NCDs. During COVID-19, WHO is supporting countries in strengthening the design and implementation of policies, including for resilient health systems, health services and infrastructure, in treating people living with NCDs and preventing and controlling NCD risk factors, with a focus on the people most vulnerable to the impact of COVID-19 (5, 6). ACTIONS Strengthening communication about the risks of COVID-19 and NCDs, raising the priority of NCDs during the COVID-19 pandemic through better advocacy, managing the infodemic and promoting the dissemination of communication and information products on COVID-19 and NCDs. Providing timely, high-quality technical expertise and guidance to countries and the general public on preventing transmission, testing and treatment options for people living with or affected by NCDs and guidance on the continuity of essential NCD services. Communication, advocacy, and dissemination Technical expertise and guidance Improving understanding of the (i) relations between COVID-19 and NCDs, in particular by epidemiological analysis and forecasting, and (ii) the demands from ministries, United Nations organizations and nongovernmental organizations for specific guidance on the prevention, early diagnosis, screening and appropriate treatment of NCDs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Enhancing coordination among other organizations in the United Nations system (through the Task Force), civil society (through the WHO Civil Society Working Group on NCDs), private sector entities, academic institutions and philanthropic foundations for: • global understanding of the relations between COVID-19 and NCDs and the technical expertise and guidance required by countries to decrease morbidity and mortality rates among people living with or affected by NCDs; • operational support to countries as part of the COVID-19 strategic preparedness and response plan and the global humanitarian response plan; • scaling up country readiness and response operations as part of the COVID-19 strategic preparedness and response plan and the global humanitarian response plan; and • accelerating priority research and innovation on COVID-19 and NCDs as part of broader research and innovation on vulnerable populations, people living with other diseases and on health systems and health promotion. Understanding Coordination 1 2 3 4 6Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK EUROPEAN BANK FOR RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT Other agencies, funds and programmes Supports COVID-19 responses by procurement of medical supplies, capacity-building and epidemiological surveillance. Includes NCDs. Mainstreaming of nutrition in COVID-19 operations. Enhancing nutrition education and promoting healthy diets. Analysing comorbid conditions to ensure that people living with NCDs are among the vulnerable groups prioritized for COVID-19 testing. Supports countries in addressing NCDs and pursuing UHC as a critical response to COVID-19. Includes grants, loans and technical assistance for immediate and longer-term health system responses to COVID-19 and investments in social protection and digital health. Strengthens partnerships with WHO, UNICEF and others to address COVID-19, UHC and NCDs. Includes advocacy for health taxes, NCDs and UHC. Integrates health and well-being into investments for new projects, in line with the 2019 EBRD Environmental and Social Policy. Ensures that relevant projects include public health and safety for workers (including NCDs when appropriate) during project preparation and implementation and in response to COVID-19. Includes development of tools and resources for assessing and managing COVID-19 risks among vulnerable workers with underlying diseases. Guidance and training on health and well-being during and beyond COVID-19 for private sector partners. Assesses the impacts of COVID-19 on transport, including on health. AfDB : COVID-19 COVID-19 (Coronavirus): ADB’s response Sustainability and coronavirus Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Not yet available Not yet available Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief1 Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 1 1 These briefs provide policy advisors and decision-makers in the United Nations, Member States and development partners with information on how the United Nations system is responding to the challenge of NCDs. The briefs describe: (i) the role of each agency in ensuring an effective contribution to the prevention and control of NCDs; (ii) current and potential actions of the agencies to support the World Health Assembly-endorsed “best buys” and other recommended interventions to address NCDs; (iii) the importance of partnerships in ensuring that agencies mobilize an effective response to NCDs; (iv) the importance of partnerships in the agencies’ responses to NCDs; and (v) how agencies are mobilizing resources to deliver support to Member States. 7Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GLOBAL FUND TO FIGHT AIDS, TUBERCULOSIS AND MALARIA INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY Safeguards livelihoods and food security for the most vulnerable. Ensures access to safe, diverse, nutritious foods that contribute to healthy diets. Chairs the SDG-3 Global Action Plan Sustainable Financing for Health accelerator, with a working group comprising a broad range of partners to support governments in using health taxes to reduce NCDs and increase public revenues during and beyond COVID-19. Ensures continued management of cancer patients. Radiotherapy webinars are available in five United Nations languages, providing guidance on when to treat, techniques to minimize exposure to COVID-19 and practical guidance to support centres in continuing services. Webinars to support nuclear medicine professionals, a technical publication on “the new normal” in nuclear medicine and guidance published in journals. Assesses factors that affect the supply of radiopharmaceuticals and a technical brief for its member states. Completed an international survey on the status of nuclear medicine and patterns that influence decreased use of or fewer studies on nuclear medicine in hospitals for cancer, cardiovascular disease and other diseases. FAO : Novel Coronavirus The Global Fund: COVID-19 IAEA: COVID-19 Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Responding to the challenge of NCDs: The role of the food and agriculture sector Not yet available Responding to the challenge of NCDs: IAEA Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 8Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK INTERNATIONAL AGENCY FOR RESEARCH ON CANCER INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT LAW ORGANIZATION Supports countries in planning interventions to improve access to services for NCDs and high- quality primary care services during and beyond COVID-19. Supports countries in providing social protection interventions for vulnerable populations, including those with NCDs. Scales up digital solutions for health and NCDs during and beyond the pandemic. Activities are in line with the Bank’s Health and Nutrition Sector Framework, which emphasizes NCDs as well as gender, ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities. Research on interactions between COVID-19 and cancer, including: • monitoring the COVID-19 situation and exploring initiatives and collaborations to assess the impact of the disease on cancer and cancer prevention. See examples of recent papers here. • as part of the global COVID-19 and Cancer Taskforce, coordinates the synthesis and rapid dissemination of data on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer outcomes worldwide. Ensures a response to COVID-19 pandemic based on the rule of law, including: • strengthening legal and policy frameworks for managing COVID-19 and its aftermath, e.g. public health laws consistent with the International Health Regulations (2005); • mitigating the impact of the crisis on justice systems and justice seekers, with a focus on the most vulnerable, particularly women and marginalized groups, and on the resilience of the justice sector and delivery of justice for women; and • advocating for maintenance of the rule of law, strengthening of countries’ governance and institutions and supporting and investing in a culture of justice to protect the rights and dignity of people everywhere. The IDB group in response to COVID-19 IARC operations during the COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 A rule of law-based response to the COVID-19 pandemic Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Not yet available Not yet available Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 9Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE Protects the health and safety of workers, including from acute risks (COVID-19), NCDs and psychosocial risks (see Managing work-related psychosocial risks during the COVID-19 pandemic), by strengthening occupational safety and health measures, adapting work arrangements, preventing discrimination and exclusion, providing access to health for all and extending access to paid leave. Stimulates the economy and employment through fiscal policy and by lending and financial support in specific sectors, including the health sector for NCD care. Supports enterprises, jobs and incomes by providing various types of relief, implementing employment retention measures and extending NCD care and social support to everyone. Ensures social dialogue by strengthening the capacity and resilience of employers’ and workers’ organizations, strengthening the capacity of governments and strengthening collective bargaining and labour relations institutions and processes. Mobilizes athletes and sporting champions and IOC networks to encourage healthy behaviour during and beyond COVID-19, including through #Strongertogether, #HealthyAtHome and #beActive campaigns and the SafeHands challenge. Supports health promotion through a new memorandum of understanding with WHO that provides a platform for: advocating for physical activity; preventing NCDs and promoting healthier lifestyles; strengthening the health legacy of major sporting events such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games; promoting local and community sports programmes to reach and encourage participation by more girls, older people and people living with a disability; and strengthening collaboration between ministries of sports and health. These activities will help deliver the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity. COVID-19 and the world of work IOC Medical COVID-19 Hub Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: ILO Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 10 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION INTERNATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATION UNION ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT Ensures that migrants, returnees and other forcibly displaced persons are not excluded from COVID-19 response and recovery initiatives. NCDs are an important element. Advocates for UHC and ensures the continuity of essential health services, including for NCDs, through the provision of life-saving primary health services, procurement of essential medicines and psychosocial support, especially in countries that required humanitarian assistance before COVID-19. Many migration health assessment centres remain operational to provide essential health services to migrants and refugees, including for NCDs. Preparing knowledge tools with the European mHealth Knowledge and Innovation Hub in response to NCDs and COVID-19, including: assessment frameworks in mHealth and assisting countries in creating, adopting and/or improving assessment frameworks for mHealth apps; guidance for national and regional implementation of specific mHealth interventions (e.g. mDiabetes); and guidance for integration of mHealth into national and regional health systems. Developing policy frameworks and guidance to support innovations in digital health (e.g. health emergencies, data-sharing). Investigates the impact of the pandemic on health systems and policy responses. Considers how best to advance work on the impact of COVID-19 on NCDs, in line with recent work on COVID-19 and mental health. IOM: COVID-19 response ITU: COVID-19 OECD: Tackling coronavirus (COVID-19) Contributing to a global effort OECD: Health Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: IOM Not yet available Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: OECD Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 11 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 JOINT UNITED NATIONS PROGRAMME ON HIV/AIDS* Ensures human rights-focused, people-centred, community-led, community-based delivery of health and support services. Promotes socially inclusive policies and practices and differentiated approaches, including for adults and children living with HIV and marginalized populations, such as multi-month prescriptions and dispensation of medicines for HIV, NCDs and tuberculosis. Advocates for and supports policies and practices for addressing comorbid conditions and co-infections, such as HIV–NCDs, HIV–mental health and HIV–HPV and cervical cancer. Has included sections on HIV and COVID-19, HIV and NCDs, HIV and mental health and HIV and cervical cancer. Advocates and supports countries by mobilizing additional funding from the Global Fund and other donors for the response to COVID-19, to mitigate disruption and for further scaling up of services for HIV and comorbid conditions and co-infections. * The Joint Programme comprises the Cosponsors and UNAIDS Secretariat UNAIDS: COVID-19 and HIV UNAIDS 2020 Global AIDS Update report Websites and weblinks Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: UNAIDS Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 OFFICE OF THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS Advocates for COVID-19 response and recovery (including the response to NCDs): • grounded in human rights principles, including through the United Nations framework for the immediate socio-economic response; and • addresses the socio-economic factors that prevent people from enjoying the right to health, with attention to vulnerable and marginalized populations, and addressing the social, legal and other determinants of health. Encourages United Nations agencies to uphold a common understanding on a human rights-based approach to development cooperation. OHCHR: COVID-19 and its human rights dimensions Websites and weblinks Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 12 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Supports sustainable procurement of health products under WHO leadership. Strengthens crisis management and response and addresses critical social, economic and environmental impacts. As the technical lead for the socio-economic response, supports United Nations country teams in assessing the social, environmental and economic impacts of COVID-19 and in advancing urgent recovery measures to minimize long-term impacts, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized groups. NCDs should be considered in this work. Developing a method for integrating COVID-19 into WHO- and UNDP-led national NCD investment cases. Supports advancement of health taxes to protect populations from NCDs, strengthen pandemic resilience and raise government revenue. Scaling integrated solutions in governance, social protection, the green economy and digital disruption, which are critical for addressing the social, economic, commercial and environmental determinants of NCDs. Conducting modelling of NCDs, COVID-19 and health systems capacity. Health systems strengthening in partnership with the Global Fund and the Access and Delivery Partnership. Effective and inclusive governance for health through the COVID-19 Law Lab, a joint project with UNAIDS, WHO and the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University. Links recovery work with a transition to clean energy and progress towards sustainable consumption and production. Addresses the environmental determinants of NCDs, such as air pollution, chemicals and intensive farming. Much of the work contributes to global and national responses to health and NCDs through its four strategic responses to COVID-19: (i) the medical and humanitarian emergency phase; (ii) a transformational change for nature and people; (iii) investing to build back better; and (iv) modernizing global environmental governance. UNDP: COVID-19 pandemic Beyond Recovery: Towards 2030 UNDP’s Global Fund Partnership The Access and Delivery Partnership COVID-19 Law Lab COVID-19 updates from the United Nations Environment Programme Working With the Environment to Protect People- UNEP’s COVID-19 Response Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: UNDP Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 13 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 UNITED NATIONS POPULATION FUND UN HABITAT UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES Addresses gender-based violence. Supports access to full services for sexual and reproductive health and rights. Strengthens remote mental health and psychosocial support capacity. Supports governments in strengthening their COVID-19 response and recovery in urban settings (particularly informal and vulnerable ones) in 64 countries to increase protection against COVID-19 and the impact of the pandemic. The work will include NCDs and their determinants. Activities include technical guidance, support for data collection and analysis and projects to increase access to basic services. Undertakes applied research on the relations between COVID-19 and housing, infrastructure and basic services, including health and NCDs. Risk communication and community engagement with refugees, and hosts communities on COVID-19. Ensures continued access of refugees to health care, including for NCDs, in the context of COVID-19. Provides remote consultation services and prescription refills to avoid unnecessary attendance at health facilities. Uses the community health work force to follow up stable patients and to monitor and provide medication. Procures NCD medicines for refugees and neighbouring host communities to ensure continuity of care. Ensures mental health and psychosocial support for refugees and surrounding host communities. UNFPA: COVID-19 pandemic COVID-19 campaign: take action for cities UNHCR: Coronavirus outbreak Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks UNFPA: Responding to the Challenge of NCDs Under preparation Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: UNHCR Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 14 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’S FUND UNITED NATIONS OFFICE ON DRUGS AND CRIME Support for governments’ response strategies, procurement of supplies, including for pneumonia, with 18 000 oxygen concentrators provided to over 50 countries. Mass media campaigns with messages on healthy behaviour, psychosocial support and prevention of exposure to risk factors, targeting young people and caregivers. See for example: Community-based health care, including outreach and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Promotes breastfeeding. Collaborates with WHO, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norwegian Agency for Development Coordination, Global NCD Alliance, UNIATF and UNDP on a series of opinion pieces and virtual sessions to advocate for NCDs in the COVID-19 context. Works with Novo Nordisk on logistics for time-limited donation of insulin during COVID-19. Developed a children’s book, My Hero is You, with WHO and the Inter-agency Standing Committee to help them understand the current pandemic and to provide psychosocial support. Also producing a mental health and psychosocial support product for adolescents and young people. Supports governments in the treatment, care and rehabilitation of people with drug use disorders in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Promotes the right to health, UHC and healthy environments. Developing rapid assessment tools for countries to evaluate the impact of the pandemic on essential health and other services in the context of people trafficking. UNICEF: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) information centre UNODC COVID-19 policy documents Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: UNICEF Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 15 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY FOR PALESTINE REFUGEES IN THE NEAR EAST UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM STANDING COMMITTEE ON NUTRITION UN WOMEN Develops and implements comprehensive response plans that include NCDs, comprising coordination, planning, monitoring, travel arrangements, rules, surveillance, case management and referral, service delivery, instructions for use of personal protective equipment, infection prevention and control, communication and community involvement. Procures medicines for NCDs and other conditions during the pandemic. Develops and implements standard operating procedures for NCD service delivery during the pandemic, including delivery of medicines to patients. Impact of COVID-19 on food environments, nutrition and food security. Supports gender analysis, data disaggregation by gender and sex, gender-responsive approaches and impact on women’s empowerment. Strengthens the response to social determinants of health. COVID-19 Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan for UNRWA UNSCN: The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting people’s food environments: a resource list on Food Systems and Nutrition responses COVID-19 and gender data hub Ending violence against women COVID-19 Women with disabilities in a pandemic (COVID-19) Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Websites and weblinks Not yet available Not yet available Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 16 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME Addresses diet-related risk factors (undernutrition, overweight and obesity) to reduce the prevalence of diet-related NCDs and vulnerability to COVID-19 by working with governments to: (i) strengthen and expand social protection programmes to address poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition; (ii) sustain food production, trade, distribution and consumption; (iii) support national health systems by improving supply chains, data collection and targeted nutrition services for the most vulnerable; and (iv) provide alternatives to school meals when educational activities have been suspended because of the pandemic. Extends logistics and supply chain capacity and expertise to provide services where there is no commercial capacity; ensures that critical health and humanitarian cargo and personnel are moved to where they are most needed, such as movement of personal protective equipment. Provides guidance, including on: (i) safe re-opening of schools and nutrition guidance for schools; (ii) adaptation of nutrition and food support during the pandemic; (iii) adaptation of WFP HIV operations during the pandemic; and (iv) logistics and supply chains during the pandemic. WFP: COVID-19 pandemic Websites and weblinks Responding to the challenge of NCDs: WFP Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 SECRETARIAT OF THE WHO FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON TOBACCO CONTROL Reminds Parties of the importance of sustaining the gains in tobacco control during the pandemic to ensure healthier environments and prevent NCDs, as both tobacco use and NCDs worsen the outcomes of COVID-19. Emphasizes to Parties the importance of providing support for tobacco cessation, taking advantage of raised awareness in the population about health and about the harms of tobacco use. Reminds Parties of the importance of using fiscal policies for tobacco products, as raising tobacco taxes decreases consumption and at the same time increases revenues, which can be used during recovery to build back better. Monitors implementation of SDG target 3.a. Supports Parties to the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and promotes ratification of the Protocol, which has 61 Parties to date. Protects public health from interference by the tobacco industry; monitors the corporate social responsibility activities of the tobacco industry during the pandemic, as at times of increased need in countries, the tobacco industry may try to improve its damaged public image; and promotes implementation of the model policy to prevent tobacco industry interference in United Nations agencies. Tobacco control during the COVID-19 pandemic: how we can help Websites and weblinks Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: Secretariat of the WHO FCTC Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 17 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION Provides trade-related information regarding COVID-19. COVID-19 and world trade Websites and weblinks Not yet available Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief Examples of important issues and/or activities common to NCDs and COVID-19 WORLD BANK GROUP Supports immediate responses (health systems, procurement of medicines and medical supplies, ensuring food security) and sustainable recovery. Continues to work with countries to ensure that loans and projects include NCDs and broader health system strengthening. Supports digital solutions. World Bank Group and COVID-19 (coronavirus) Websites and weblinks Responding to the Challenge of NCDs: The World Bank Agency-specific NCD Task Force brief 18 Responding to NCDs during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Examples of actions being taken by selected members of the United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases References 1. 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV): Strategic preparedness and response plan. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020 (https:// www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/srp-04022020.pdf?ua=1). 2. Global humanitarian response plan. Geneva: United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs; 2020 (https://www.unocha.org/sites/ unocha/files/Global-Humanitarian-Response-Plan-COVID-19.pdf). 3. A UN framework for the immediate socio-economic response to COVID-19. New York City (NY): United Nations; 2020 (https://unsdg. un.org/resources/un-framework-immediate-socio-economic-response-covid-19). 4. Stronger collaboration, better health. Global action plan for healthy lives and well-being for all. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2019 (https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/1250381/ retrieve) 5. COVID-19 and NCDs: Conceptual framework for the WHO NCD/WIN Technical Working Group. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2000 (https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/conceptual-framework-for-the-who-working-group-on-covid-19-and-ncds). 6. NCDs & COVID-19. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020 (https://www.who.int/teams/ncds/covid-19).