(Opening & Plenary) High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases and the Promotion of Mental Health and Well-being
Meetings & Events
Date: 25 September 2025
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k18/k187hvhrw0
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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GA · PGA [0:07]:

Good morning, everybody. Please take a seat. We are going to start. Good morning. The high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being is called to order. Heads of State and Government, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, President of the Economic and Social Council, Director-General of the World Health Organization, President of the International Olympic Committee, first of her kind, female president, congratulations, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, participants. I warmly welcome all of you to this high-level meeting convened under the overall theme, equity and integration, transforming lives and livelihoods through leadership and action on non-communicable diseases, and the promotion of mental health and well-being. This high-level meeting is held in accordance with General Assembly resolution 79/700 273 of March 6, 2025. Allow me to express my sincere appreciation to the co-facilitators of the negotiation process, Her Excellency Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations, and His Excellency Olivier Maes, Permanent Representative of Luxembourg to the United Nations, for their skillful stewardship and dedicated hard work. I also extend my sincere thanks to Member States for their constructive engagement. Allow me now to make a statement as President of the General Assembly. For the first time, more children are obese than underweight. Mom weight loss drugs offered in type 2 diabetes shakeup. New drug could change breast cancer treatment. These are recent media headlines, the kind we see every day, good news. Why? Because unlike infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases carry risk factors and treatments that, in many cases, we can control. We as human beings have agency. What we eat, how we move, what we breathe, whether we seek care. And each of us has a story, a sibling with asthma, a grandparent with heart disease, a colleague managing diabetes, a friend undergoing chemotherapy. NCDs are woven into our daily lives. But normalcy cannot mean complicity. NCDs are the leading cause of human mortality. 43 million dead in 2021 alone, equivalent to 75% of all non-pandemic related deaths. That's nearly 20 million people dying of heart disease, 10 million succumbing to cancer. The good news is that by the very nature, most NCDs are preventable, treatable, or even both. Lifestyle choices, particularly around tobacco and alcohol use, diet and physical activity, all help to prevent NCDs. For those who are ill, proper testing, diagnosis and treatment options exist. The same holds true for mental health, where community awareness and anti-stigmatization coupled with psychotherapy and treatment allow people to live full, healthy lives. The challenge, of course, is that in our increasingly unequal world, the burden of NCDs is being shouldered by those most vulnerable. Nearly three-quarters of all NCD deaths are in low- and middle-income countries, where prevention and treatment options are hard to come by. In 2021, 41% of low-income countries reported supply chain issues related to NCD medication, compared to just 4% of high-income countries. The same holds true for mental health. While mental health conditions affect nearly 1 billion people worldwide, it remains chronically underfunded. Globally, mental health expenditure averages $2 per year by capita. This falls to less than $0.25 in low-income countries. Many allocate less than 1% of their health budgets to mental health. The challenge is thus cyclical. Those furthest behind are the least likely to benefit health education, prevention, or treatment. And countries facing chronically high mortality rates from NCDs suffer from labor shortages and lost economic growth. NCDs can therefore be said to be both cause and consequence of poverty. Let us be candid. Diabetes is manageable with education, medicine, and care. Cancer is treatable with early testing. Mental health need to be barrier to a fuel life. If stigma is lifted and services are accessible. The problem is not knowledge or science. We are abundant in both. It is access. Billions of people remain cut off from the very tools that could save their lives. Excellencies, we need to recommit to the promise we made in the Pact for the Future to accelerate the fulfillment of the 2030 Agenda. SDG 3 aims at ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. This requires pursuing whole-of-society approaches that harness the best resources and extends education to all. It means implementing global health policies that address and reflect social determinants for NCDs, from economics to environmental factors to food security. And it means urgently accelerating financing to fill the financing gaps that are leaving millions without sufficient or appropriate prevention and treatment. Nobody in this room is immune from non-communicable diseases. Surely, there are many in this room living with or even recovering from their own battles with heart disease or cancer or mental health. Surely, if not ourselves, then our loved ones. It is no surprise that this topic has been embraced by so many who have come together to address these silent killers. killers, which, unlike wars, could be addressed so easily if we worked together. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, consider the case of 10-year-old Kelly in Zimbabwe. One night, she woke up dizzy and thirsty, probably worried that school would be hard the next day. But after a late night visit to the emergency room, Kelly knows now that she does not have to suffer, that she can continue to go to school and play with her friends. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes and can be treated with medication, medication that she will take for the rest of her life, hopefully long and healthy life, but her life can go on like a 10-year-old child's life. But just imagine what it would have cost, not only for her personal, but also for society, if she would not have been diagnosed and treated and had dropped out of school. And there are 800 million Kellys in the world. Half of them do not have treatment like Kelly for a disease that is entirely treatable. either because they are undiagnosed, unaware they should be diagnosed, or because treatment is unavailable because it's too expensive. That is 400 million people who not only suffer, but also cannot participate or contribute to our societies as they wished. So, dear colleagues, dear heads of states, ministers, Today's discussion with leading policymakers, doctors and healthcare providers, mental health experts, advocates, is not only an opportunity to join forces and learn from each other and to show how to support the millions living with non-communicable diseases. It is also an opportunity to address the ballooning societal costs associated with NCDs. to understand that if we are working together, we do not only make individual lives better, not only regional communities, but that this joint effort is in our own interest, the interest of every country, especially in every country's economic interest. In the two decades from 2011 to 2030, it is estimated that NCDs will cost global economy a staggering 30 trillion, 30 trillion US dollar. Factoring mental health associated cost and lost productivity adds to another 16 trillion US dollars. It's about economics in this situation. So it's in the interest of every especially strong economic power. Clearly, these are challenges that affect all of us. And in the end, the poorest suffer most. As I said in the opening of the general debate, we tackle such borderless challenges not only out of altruism, but for our own mutual benefit, and even for our own self-interest. Helping others is what ultimately makes our own countries stronger. We work together or we suffer alone. So let's be better together. I thank you. I now invite His Excellency Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the Economic and Social Council, to take a statement.


ECOSOC · President [12:32]:

Thank you. President of the General Assembly, Madame Deputy Secretary-General, Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, Non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions are not only a health crisis. They are a development crisis. They strike hardest among the poorest and most vulnerable. They widen inequalities They undermine human capital and they slow economic growth. Every premature death from the NCD is lost potential. Every untreated mental health condition is a missed opportunity for inclusion and dignity. This is why the Economic and Social Council has placed these issues at the heart.

Of its work.

It also carries a responsibility to highlight the social, economic and environmental dimensions of health and to galvanize cross-sectoral solutions. The Council also serves as a bridge between health commitments and financing, partnership and policy coherence needed to achieve them. Excellencies, We are five years from the 2030 deadline. The world is far off track to meet target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goals. That is reducing premature mortality from the NCD by one third. The political declaration before us offers a clear path forward. To deliver, we must integrate NCD and mental health services into universal health coverage with primary health care as the backbone, confront the underlying determinants of ill health, from unequal access to healthy diets and clean air to the economic and commercial drivers of risky consumption and behavior, and to ensure fewer people use tobacco, hypertension is effectively managed, and millions more gain access to mental health services without stigma or barriers. But commitments will only succeed if matched with predictable and sustained financing. Domestic resource mobilizations, including health taxes, can generate new streams of revenue. Innovative partnerships can unlock additional investment, and international cooperation, including development assistance, must give greater priority to NCDs and mental health and well-being. Excellencies, ECOSOC will continue to provide a platform for accountability and coordination, a platform to connect the dots between health, finance, climate, trade, and social protection, a platform to engage civil society, the private sector, and the people with life experience ensuring solutions are inclusive and grounded in reality. Today is a moment to reaffirm our collective resolve. If we place solidarity, equity, and investment at the core of our response, we can reverse current trends. We can ensure that NCDs and mental health conditions are no longer barriers to sustainable development, but drivers of said progress for humanity. I thank you.


GA · PGA [16:37]:

I thank the President of the Economic and Social Council. I now invite Ms. Amina Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, to make her statement.


UN · DSG [16:47]:

Thank you. President of the General Assembly, President of ECOSOC, Director-General of the World Health Organization, President of the International Olympic Committee, Excellencies, friends, I have the honor to deliver these remarks on behalf of the Secretary-General. Welcome to this fourth high-level meeting of the General Assembly on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, NCDs, and the promotion of mental health and well-being. Every two seconds, someone under the age of 70 dies from a non-communicable disease. In this past year alone, over 43 million lives of all ages were lost to NCDs, the largest cause of global health deaths. Mental health conditions affect over 1 billion people worldwide, and suicide remains amongst the leading causes of death for young people. 2.8 billion people cannot afford a healthy diet. These figures are not only statistics. They represent lives shortened, livelihoods taken away, and communities that are held back. They remind us that NCDs and mental health conditions are among the greatest public health and development challenges of our time. We see this played out among many groups in many contexts. including the post-COVID surge in youth mental health needs and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in conflict and crisis settings, where health systems are often the least equipped to respond. We've made progress since the first high-level meeting in 2011. Tobacco use is declining, more countries have national strategies in place, and access to treatment is expanding. Yet my latest report makes clear that progress has slowed, The world is not on track to achieve the sustainable development goal target of 3.4 of a one-third reduction in premature mortality from NCDs by 2030. The costs are immense in human suffering, life expectancy, but also lost productivity, strained health systems, and deepening inequalities. These conditions are largely preventable. Proven cost-effective actions do exist, but they must actually reach the people. This month, the World Health Organization added GLP-1 based medicines, widely known as obesity drugs, to its essential medicines list for type 2 diabetes with related conditions, alongside other essential medicines for hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Life-saving medicines must be available and affordable, not a privilege of wealth or geography. The economics are on our side. The WHO shows that scaling proven NCD measures returns around $7 for every $1 that is invested. I'd like to acknowledge the contribution this week in the UN of the Wellcome Foundation to mental health that will support Chad and Lebanon. Excellencies, the political declaration before you today sets out ambitious but achievable goals by 2030. 150 million fewer people using tobacco, 150 million more with hypertension under control, and 150 more million with access to mental health care. To achieve these targets, we must act together. We must strengthen primary health care as the foundation of universal health coverage. We must work across sectors and partners to address the socioeconomic environmental determinants and the market forces that shape how people live, what choices they make, and ultimately their health and well-being. We must elevate mental health and psychosocial care in humanitarian settings, where the pressures are immense and needs are often overlooked and underfunded. We must ensure sustainable financing, including better use of fiscal measures to promote health and smart choices. We must place people living with NCDs and mental health conditions at the center of these efforts, recognizing their lived experience as a source of knowledge and strength. And we must be accountable for our commitments. With only five years left to 2030, time is short, but if we act with urgency and unity, we can change that trajectory. Let's pledge to commit to prevention, to equity, and accelerated action at scale. Together, we can transform lives, safeguard livelihoods, and deliver on our promise of health and well-being for all. I thank you.


GA · PGA [21:28]:

I thank the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations. I now invite Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization, to make his statement. Mr. Director General, the floor is yours.


WHO · Director-General [21:55]:

Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency, President of the General Assembly, Anelina Barbu, Deputy Secretary General, Amina Mohammed, President of the International Olympic Committee, Christy Coventry, Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, Movses Abelian; President of ECOSOC, Lok Bhadur Thapa; Excellencies; distinguished delegates; dear colleagues and friends. Of course, you heard the numbers from my sister, Amina. NCDs kill 43 million people a year. They account for seven of the world's top 10 causes of death. cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. In addition, more than 1 billion people face mental health conditions, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people. Every death is a tragedy, no matter the cause, but the younger the person, the more acute the tragedy. Every year, NCDs kill 18 million people under the age of 70. People cut down in the prime of life from diseases that could be prevented or treated. Imagine that's the population of Senegal or the Netherlands or Cambodia or Guatemala or Zimbabwe wiped out every single year. NCDs and mental health conditions are preventable and treatable. We have the knowledge, and we have the tools. What's needed is commitment, speed, and scale. The political declaration before you is the strongest yet, with ambitious, measurable, and achievable targets. I thank His Excellency Ambassador Olivier Maes of Luxembourg, and Her Excellency Ambassador Inga Rohunda King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, for leading the negotiations. My thanks also to the President of the General Assembly, Aneelina Baerbock, and her predecessor, Filimon Yang, for their leadership. And I also recognize the many civil society organizations and people with lived experience who contributed to shaping this declaration. Your voices matter, and we hear them. For the first time, mental health is fully integrated into a political declaration on NCDs. It's about time. In this declaration, you're committing to expanding access to services for mental health care. But brick by brick, we must also tear down the walls of stigma that keep so many people trapped. I urge all of us, especially those of us with the privilege of having a platform and a voice, to use those platforms and raise those voices to say that it's okay not to be okay. Mental health conditions are like any other condition, as common as a stomach ache, and that's how we should see it. Because there is no health without mental health. Excellencies, Words on paper must translate into sustained action and measurable impact. Allow me to highlight three asks for the years ahead, three promises we can make and keep. First, I ask all countries to increase investment in promoting health and preventing disease. We must remember that health does not start in clinics and hospitals. It starts in homes, schools, streets, and workplaces, in the food people eat, the products they consume, the water they drink, the air they breathe, and the conditions in which they live and work. So the number one should be addressing the root causes and helping people to lead a healthy life. Second, I ask all countries to integrate services for NCDs and mental health into primary health care. at the foundation of universal health coverage. Every community should have trained health workers, affordable diagnostics, quality-assured essential medicines and health products, and continuity of care across the life course. Third, I ask all countries to deliver equity through access and accountability. That means making essential medicines and technologies available, and affordable to all, with financing that reduces out-of-pocket payments or costs. It means tracking the targets transparently, through robust surveillance and regular reporting, so progress is visible, gaps are identified, and leaders are accountable. And it means ensuring these transformations are guided by people with lived experience, civil society, and communities. WHO stands ready to support all countries to implement the commitments you're making and achieve the targets you're setting. As 2030 approaches, the clock is ticking, but our ambition must extend beyond 2030. Premature deaths from NCDs and mental health conditions will remain defining challenges for health and development throughout this century. Let this meeting be remembered not only for promises met, but for results delivered. Above all, let's remember the reason we are in this room, for the people who are not. The life of the 55-year-old who dies today with lung cancer and the costs of treating her could have been saved with tobacco taxes and marketing bans that made smoking less appealing or affordable. The life of the 45-year-old who dies today with heart disease could have been saved if this hypertension had been diagnosed and managed with inexpensive medication. The life of the 25-year-old who dies of suicide today could have been saved if her depression had been identified and treated. They are what brings us here, and they are what drives us forward with urgency, equity, and accountability. I thank you, and, Madam President, back to you.


GA · PGA [29:16]:

I thank the Director-General of the World Health Organization. I now have the honor to invite Ms. Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee and double Olympic champion for swimming, to make her statement.


IOC · President [29:31]:

Thank you. Thank you. Good morning, President of the General Assembly, General Secretary, Secretary General, represented by the Deputy Secretary General, President of the Economic and Social Council, Director General of the World Health Organization, your Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen. Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Our bodies and our minds are made to move. But today, too many people around the world are not moving enough. The scale of the challenge is alarming. 80% of adolescents and one in three adults are not doing enough physical activity. I would say today in this room, thanks to all the security, we've probably all walked quite a bit this week, so congratulations. But the challenge is to keep it up. If we continue on this path, we face 500 million new cases of preventable diseases by 2030. This is a crisis, and it costs lives, billions of dollars in health care. In times of limited resources, we must invest in what works and support works. At a young age, I was diagnosed with asthma. And my parents did not want to put me onto the number of drugs that had been recommended. And we went to another doctor who suggested swimming. And it worked. It taught me how to control my breathing. It taught me how to grow my lung capacity. And I have never had to go on the level of dosage that had previously been recommended when I was two years old. So sport works. Physical activity is one of the most effective, low-cost, high-impact solutions we have to prevent diseases, but also to support mental health. Every step, every game, every movement saves lives, and it saves money. Physical inactivity already costs healthcare systems an estimated $27 billion every year to treat NCDs. Studies show that every dollar invested in sport and physical activity can deliver fourfold return in health care and economic benefits, from lowering health care costs to longer, healthier lives. In other words, investing in sport is a long-term investment in a stronger and more resilient community. This multiplier effect is being recognized. For example, development banks worldwide have pledged $10 billion by 2030 for sport and sustainable development projects. Their commitment reflects a growing recognition that investing in sport can generate ripple effects, not only for health, but also for education, inclusion, youth empowerment, and so much more. This is why, together with the World Health Organization, the International Olympic Committee launched an annual global campaign called Let's Move. It is simple, and it's to bring everyone everywhere to be a little bit more active in their daily lives, just as we have done this week. And it works. Last year alone, more than 500 million people joined in, young, old, families, friends, coming together to simply move, to play, to run, to work out, and to exercise. Let's Move is more than a campaign. It is our call to action. Through our partnerships with national Olympic committees, UN agencies, NGOs, and community organizations, we are bringing sport to where everyone is. The IOC and the sport community are working to bring sport and health closer together by training healthcare workers, making sport more accessible for physical and mental wellbeing, and promoting campaigns that inspire more people to move. To make a real impact, we need to work together, governments, civil society, and the private sector, guided by the WHO's Global Action Plan on Physical Activity. This high-level meeting is about a new commitment for action to NCDs and mental health. We have the chance to make a real difference, and I therefore applaud the Member States' increased recognition of physical activity and sports contribution in the political declaration, which will be adopted in a few minutes. It is time to make physical activity and sport a systematic part of health education, social, and urban policies. We need to back this with real funding to turn words into actions against NCDs. Physical activity is low-cost, high-impact investment in public health. Let's give people everywhere a chance to move, to play, and to live healthier lifestyles. Our Olympic motto is faster, higher, stronger, together. It reminds us that the progress only happens when we move, when we move together. So let's move for health. Let's move for a better future. Thank you.


GA · PGA [35:31]:

I thank the president of the International Olympic Committee and how great that your motto, faster, higher, stronger together, fits perfectly with our motto, better together. So in this spirit, dear heads of state and government, excellencies, distinguished delegates, distinguished participants, we have just heard the last speaker for the opening segment of this high level meeting. I thank our eminent speakers once again for their participation and insightful intervention. As our special guests depart on the podium, kindly remain seated. The plenary segment of the high-level meeting will begin in just a second. I thank you.


Speaker 10 [38:34]:

No, no, no.


GA · Vice-President [39:41]:

Distinguished delegates, we're about to continue proceedings of our meeting.

The meeting is called to order. Excellencies, Excellencies, they can't hear.


Speaker 12 [40:16]:

Two, three times and they will hear you.

Just two, three times.


GA · Vice-President [40:27]:

The meeting is called to order. Heads of States and Governments, Ministers, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, participants, we shall now hear statements in the plenary segment in accordance with paragraph 3 and 7 of General Assembly resolution 79/273. Before we proceed further, I would like to inform delegations that multi-stakeholder panel one on tackling the determinants of non-communicable diseases and mental health and the well-being through multi-sectoral effective governance and collaborative action will take place at 11 o'clock a.m. in conference room two. Before giving the floor to the first first speaker of the plenary. I would like to inform delegations that we have a very long list of speakers and to enable the high-level meeting to hear from as many delegations as possible in the limited time available for this meeting, all speakers are requested to adhere to the three-minute time limit for statements in the national capacity and five minutes for statements made on behalf of a group of states. Should speakers exceed their allotted time, the microphone will be automatically deactivated. I apologize in advance if speakers are cut off. As delegations have been informed, we have unfortunately have to resort to these measures to hear from as many speakers as possible in the limited time available. Having said this, I would appeal to all speakers to deliver their statements at a reasonable pace to facilitate interpretation into six official languages of the General Assembly. Thank you in advance for your understanding. I now invite Her Excellency Juniusia Krieling-Simons, President of the Republic of Suriname, to address the meeting. Your Excellency.


Suriname · President [43:13]:

Thank you. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome the convening of this important high-level meeting. NCDs remain a threat to health and well-being in many countries, including my country, Suriname. It's the leading cause of death and disability in my country and accounts for almost 80% of all deaths. These illnesses place a significant burden of suffering and financial stress on individuals, families, and our healthcare systems. Equally, mental health conditions are increasingly recognized as an urgent public health priority, connected and interconnected to the NCD risk factors and outcomes. That's why my country has recently added well-being, a Department of Well-being, to the Ministry of Health to focus special attention on the fact that mental health diseases could be prevented if we spend more time and more attention, if we give more attention to people's well-being, specifically of our young. Our people are more and more confronted with the impact of mental health challenges. They feel lonely, depressed, and often isolated.

We will have to pay.

Attention to the risk of social media and screen time in general on the mental health of our children. It seems that girls have more problems with this. It seems to be that we are off track. Five years to 2030, and we might not be able to achieve the target 3.4. and the reduction of premature mortality from NCDs by one-third through prevention and treatment, and the promotion of mental health. Our situation is marked by escalating rates of unhealthy lifestyle, which causes, of course, obesity among children and adults, unhealthy diets and alcohol abuse, we know all of that, physical activity by more than 50% of adults. The development of every nation is dependent on the health of its people.


GA · Vice-President [46:05]:

So, I thank the president of Surinam. I now have the honor to invite his excellency, Theresa Michael True, the prime minister and minister of finance, national security, and immigration, health, and social security of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Your excellency.


Saint Kitts and Nevis · CARICOM · Prime Minister [46:45]:

Thank you.

Chair, excellencies, distinguished colleagues, and partners in global health. I deliver this statement on behalf of the Caribbean community. We are as head with responsibility for health in the quasi-cabinet, I am delighted to deliver this message. The Caribbean community has long recognized that health is a cornerstone of sustainable development, economic resilience, and social cohesion. Since Port of Spain Declaration of 2007, our member states have taken bold steps to confront the rising burden of non-communicable diseases and to advance mental health as a central priority. These challenges are not merely clinical. They touch every aspect of our societies, from our economies to our families, from productivity to social well-being. Over the past 18 years, we have made measurable progress. Member states have developed individual NCD plans and strategies, strengthened primarily through our primary health care systems and expand, in some instances, integrated mental health services. Permit me to highlight one of CARICOM's achievements during my tenure. In response to rising rates of crime, Heads of Government held two regional summits, which led to the development of a consolidated framework for addressing crime and violence as a public health issue. We are acutely aware of the interlinkages between crime and health and their implications for socio-economic instability or stability of small island and low-lying coastal developing states. As a medical professional, I have a great passion for and remain deeply committed to using evidence-based solutions, which has enabled me to support the implementation of survey findings from Saint Kitts and Nevis to inform new strategies. We have enacted policies to create healthier food environments and regulate harmful substances. We have also developed school and nutrition policies in some Member States and look forward to adopting them in other Member States. Fiscal measures such as taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and tobacco, reflecting our understanding that strategic economic instruments are critical tools in reducing risk factors. We have advanced cancer prevention initiatives and through our leading public health agency, CARPHA, have been able to strengthen surveillance systems to guide evidence-based interventions. These achievements demonstrate the determination, innovation, and political will of Caribbean governments and health leaders. Regional cooperation has been central to this success. Through CARICOM, member states have harmonized policies shared best practices, and coordinated multi-sectoral responses that no single country could achieve alone. The Bridgetown Declaration reinforced this commitment, emphasizing that health must be integrated into social, economic, and environmental policy, highlighting the importance of equity, rights, and climate resilience in building strong health systems. We also acknowledge with gratitude the indispensable contributions of our regional institutions and partners, CARPHA and PAHO, and civil society advocates such as Health Caribbean Coalition, and who have championed people-centered policies, strengthened accountability, and amplified the voices of our communities and our health professionals who work tirelessly to implement the policies and programs. We have endorsed and adopted the Caribbean Moves initiatives and continue to raise awareness of NCDs through the observance of Caribbean Wellness Day, World Cancer Day and World Health Day. It is important to note that we do this in collaboration with our communities, civil society organizations, faith-based organizations and other institutions to ensure a whole of society approach. Yet, despite these advances, The challenge is far from over. For CARICOM and SIDS, non-communicable diseases are not just a health challenge. They are an existential threat. They account for most deaths in our region and impose catastrophic burdens on our health systems, economies and families. We note with concern that the current draft political declaration does not reflect the urgency of this reality. Proposed targets on tobacco, hypertension, and mental health fall far short of the scale of the crisis. Obesity, which is a modifiable risk factor, also remains critical to progress on NCDs. Stronger commitments on financing are needed. To ensure no one is left behind. One, dedicated global financing for NCDs, including catalytic funds, debt-for-health swaps, and innovative blended finance, so that small economies are not left behind. Two, equitable access to essential medicines and technologies for NCD intervention and care. Three, recognition of the intersection between NCDs, climate change, and emergencies.


GA · Vice-President [52:51]:

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you. I now have the honor, I now have the honor to invite His Excellency, Stephen Ligamanda Rabuka, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji to the podium. Your Excellency.


Fiji · Prime Minister [53:37]:

Thank you, Mr. Vice President. Excellencies, Fiji welcomes the timely convening of this meeting and the draft political declaration presented before us. We endorse the declaration and commit to achieving the global targets on NCD prevention, mental health promotion, and the pursuit of universal health coverage. We also recognize the central role of the World Health Organization, WHO, in addressing NCDs and mental health globally. Sadly, back home, NCDs and mental health challenges are lived realities of almost every Fijian family. Non-communicable diseases account for over 80% of deaths, hindering Fiji's social development. Mental health issues in Fijian society go unrecognized, leaving adolescents vulnerable to trauma, stress, and substance abuse. These interconnected challenges threaten the well-being and quality of life of Fijians. Your Excellencies, Fiji has legislated health laws restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods, implementing healthy school policies, and developing nutrient profile models. In tackling mental health issues, Fiji is increasing investment in mental health services, decentralizing care, and training health workers to provide psychological first aid. However, stigma, underfunding, data gaps, healthcare capabilities, and rehabilitation remain significant barriers to progress. NCDs and mental health issues are compounded by climate change, food insecurity, and geographic isolation. There is a need for targeted international financing for SIDS to address the rising costs of NCDs and mental health care. In closing, as a small island developing state, we need support to address the phenomenon, and we look forward to collaborate and share best practices with you. Thank you very much.


Antigua and Barbuda · Prime Minister [57:09]:

Of mental health is a subject that is very dear to me. With over 1 billion individuals globally living with a mental health condition, Mental illness is among the most persistent non-communicable diseases. Yet too often it remains invisible. It burdens its burden on health, productivity, and dignity is greater than any other chronic illness. But stigma still silences voices and delays urgent care. Antiguan Barbuda is determined to change this. We are focused on transforming mental health from a whispered concern into a national priority, moving from outdated institutionalization practices toward modernization, education, and collaborative partnership. Our vision is clear. Our mental health program includes community awareness and education, stronger systems and training, and partnership and collaboration. Through a robust public campaign system, through school programs and community dialogues. We are committed to dismantle stigma, strengthening coping skills, and helping families recognize triggers unique to our society. We are working with our medical association and training institutions to ensure that mental health is integrated with primary health. Our government alone cannot solve this issue. So we're using an all of society approach as we engage families, community associations, churches, and regional neighbors. We call upon the private sector and certainly public sector to invest in a model of care that is sustainable, effective, and humane. Colleagues, these commitments are not abstract. They reflect the faces of children whose education falters under untreated anxiety, workers whose livelihoods are threatened by depression, and families strained by unspoken pain. Every person deserves dignity, care, and opportunity. As leaders, we are called upon to act with compassion, with courage, and shared responsibility. Antigua and Barbuda pledges to share our experience, to learn from yours, and to help build a world where mental wellness is integral to development. Together, through education, awareness, and partnership, we can modernize mental health care and secure brighter futures for all.

Together, let us build

a healthier, more resilient future for all.


Speaker 20 [1:00:09]:

followed by the


GA · Vice-President [1:00:13]:

I I thank the prime minister of anti Antigua babunda and I now of the kingdom I mean of the yes I now have the honor to invite the prime minister of the kingdom of Belgium His Excellency Bart Dewever.


Belgium · Prime Minister [1:00:38]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. To prevent you from getting sick, I will respect the speaking time. In Belgium, in my country, cardiovascular diseases and cancer alone are the cause of nearly half of all deaths, 47%. These illnesses also weigh heavily on our economies. You're all familiar with the first principle of medicine, Primum non nocere, that's Latin for first do no harm. That means that prevention is always better than cure. And this applies just as much to health policy as to clinical care. Prevention is not only far less costly for national budgets, it also offers a high return on investment by reducing the demand for healthcare and preventing productivity losses. And yet in Belgium, still 26% of all deaths are linked to preventable risk factors. tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, and lack of physical activity.

I myself, until 15 years ago, was grossly overweight, drank too much alcohol, and did no physical activity.

I'm the living proof that people can change.

But for people to

change, we need a health-in-all-policies approach, which takes into account the various determinants of health: social, economic, commercial, and environmental.

A particular concern is the rapid use of vaping amongst young people, creating a new generation of addicts.

I call for more cross-border cooperation to counter this concerning development. In this context, the leadership and guidance of the World Health Organization is invaluable in advancing global public health. Belgium remains firmly committed to supporting the organization and its essential normative work. And finally, my country is pleased to join the consensus around the political declaration.

I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:02:34]:

I thank the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Belgium. I now have the honor to invite to the podium His Excellency Ralf Golslaves, Prime Minister and Minister of National Security, Legal Affairs and Information of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Your Excellency, The podium is yours.


Saint Vincent and the Grenadines · Prime Minister [1:03:08]:

Vice President, Your Excellencies, St. Vincent and the Grenadines is honoured to have co-facilitated, alongside Luxembourg, a process that has placed before us some of the most pressing issues that strike to the heart of human development: the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being. For small island developing states, the burden of NCDs is acute. In over 80% of SIDS, more than one in six adults die prematurely from non-communicable diseases. While in the Caribbean, NCDs account for approximately 75% of all deaths, with profound economic ramifications. NCDs and mental health are not limited by geography, income, or development status. but are global in scope and are shaped by diets, lifestyles, policies, and the inequities that we inherit and perpetuate. This reality underscores the need for a globally coordinated approach that is integrated, multisectoral, and not only recognizes the unique circumstances of SIDS, but accommodates them, including through sustained and predictable funding and technology transfer. Today, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines joins the majority in expressing its support for the political declaration, which is the product of months of meaningful negotiation and compromise. We recognize that it is not perfect, but perfection is not the standard in multilateralism, nor is it the measure of progress. What we have is a declaration that is robust, comprehensive enough to provide a necessary catalyst for action, and reflects the broadest possible consensus.

Five years from 2030, the world is off track to meet our collective target under SDG 3.4.

We believe that the ambitions and targets contained with the political declaration can effect change, providing the direction that we need to close the gap between promises and policies. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:05:31]:

I thank his excellency the Prime Minister of the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent. May I now call upon his excellency the Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Commonwealth of Bahamas. Your excellency, the the podium is yours.


Bahamas · Prime Minister [1:06:01]:

Distinguished colleagues, all good morning. When I visit clinics across the Bahamas, I hear the same kinds of stories. A father stretches and portions his insulin because he cannot afford to use the full dose at once. A mother hides her anxiety because she worries that her neighbors will see what her neighbors will say. Families who survive hurricanes tell that the hardest part was not the rebuilding of their homes, but living with the fear of the next storm. These stories are not unique to my country. They can be found across our region and across the world. They show how non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions shape lives, limit opportunity, and hold communities back. We have known the scale of the challenge for years. Every two seconds, someone under the age of 70 dies from a non-communicable disease. Nearly 1 billion have lived with untreated mental health conditions. Yet the global response has been uneven and too often delayed. We treat emergencies with urgency, but allow long-term crisis to fester. If today's political declaration is to carry weight, it must rest on concrete steps. I believe there are three that can change that trajectory. First, integrate mental health into primary care. The clinic is the front door of the health system. It is where most people go first. That visit should not end with a prescription for blood pressure alone. It should also provide support for depression or trauma. Treating the body without treating the mind leaves people only half cared for. By 2030, citizens everywhere should be able to find mental health support at their local clinic. Second, make all of government part of the solution. What we eat, how we move the products that fill our stores, these are shaped by agriculture, trade, education, and finance. If these ministries act without regard for health, the health sector will always be left cleaning up the damage. Policies across government must be aligned to reduce risk factors and strengthen resilience. Regulation of harmful commercial practices is not a luxury, it is protection of our citizens. Third, build financing that endures. Health systems cannot be at the mercy of crisis. For small island states like mine, one hurricane can wipe out years of economic growth. When budgets collapse, health services are among the first to be cut, just when people need them most. Financing has to be structured to survive shocks. Prevention must be funded consistently, not only when times are good. National efforts alone will only go so far. Success depends on whether we, as partners, choose to align our resources, our policies, and our will. It depends on whether declaration leads not only to speeches, but to healthier families, stronger communities, and health.


GA · Vice-President [1:09:05]:

Thank you, the Prime Minister of Bahamas. I now have the honor to invite to the podium, His Excellency, Luke Marcelina, the Prime Minister of Sint Maarten and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Your Excellency, the podium is yours.


Sint Maarten (Dutch part) · Prime Minister [1:09:26]:

Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, we gather today at a pivotal moment. The global community has made historic strides in health. Yet, the stark truth remains, we are not on track to meet the 2030 sustainable development goals. This failure is not due to a lack of knowledge, but a lack of ambition and decisive action. Let us speak plainly with each other. First, Women's health continues to reflect one of the most persistent inequalities of our times. Through women, life longer than men, they endure more frequent and longer lasting physical and mental health challenges during their most vital years. This is not only a health issue, it's a matter of justice, productivity, and dignity. Expanding gender-specific research, strengthening prevention and treatment, and ensuring equal opportunities for women's health must become global priorities. Second, the global threat of non-communicable diseases, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and others remain the greatest health challenge of our generation. These diseases are responsible for the vast majority of deaths worldwide. They weaken societies, undermine economies, and entrench inequalities. We know the solution, yet our progress is dangerously slow. Thirdly, while we welcome the adoption of the new political declaration, we must also acknowledge a hard truth. Compromises have diluted commitments. The world does not need half measures. It needs urgency. It needs ambition. Without stronger resolve, the global community will fail to achieve its health goals and will betray the promises of the 2030 agenda. Colleagues, addressing these challenges requires a gender-sensitive approach. Women, particularly in vulnerable regions, are disproportionately affected by non-communicable diseases. Closing the gender gap in health is not optional. It's an essential to building resilient society.


GA · Vice-President [1:12:38]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. Your time is up. Thank you. Thank you. I now have the honor to invite To the podium, His Excellency To'olipe Mautete Poulungo Onesemo, the Deputy Prime Minister of the Independent State of Samoa. Your Excellency.


Samoa · Deputy Prime Minister [1:13:01]:

Excellencies, we are well past halfway point of the 2030, yet the world remains dangerously off track in achieving the SDG target 3.4. which aims to reduce the premature mortality from NCDs by one third. Today, NCDs account for nearly 75% of global deaths. Mental health conditions, too often invisible and stigmatized, further compound with burden and rising rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. Despite this, only 1% to 2% of official development assistance is allocated to this crisis. This is a staggering mismatch between the magnitude of the challenge and the scale of resources dedicated to it. For states like Samoa, the toll is amplified. NCDs and mental health challenges are not just health issues. They are development threats that erode resilience of entire communities the productivity of economies, and the cultural and social fabric that defines our identity. Excellency, this is not a silent epidemic. It is an emergency that chips away at our resilience daily. As we invest in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness, we cannot neglect the resilience of our people. What good is a seaward protection if our people are too ill to thrive behind it. Samoa therefore calls for three urgent imperatives. First, an integrated whole of society response. Second, a sustainable targeted financing. And third, a firm commitment to inclusivity and human rights. With leaders, Samoa is integrating NCD and mental health services into primary health care, training community health workers to deliver services at the village level, and connecting treatment with social support systems. We have implemented taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages and are investing in early prevention to reduce childhood obesity. President, NCDs and mental health are not isolated issues. They are development related. They are equity issues. They are resilience issues. Their impact touches every life, every family, and every economy. Let this meeting be more than a review. Let it be a catalyst, a moment that restores momentum, elevate equity, scales financing, and reinforce accountability. At this halfway point in 2030, incrementalism is no longer an option.


GA · Vice-President [1:16:05]:

Thank you, Your Excellency, the Prime Minister of Samoa. Thank you. Thank you. I now have the honor to call to the podium His Excellency Sal Al-Sawwini, Minister of Health of Iraq, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.


Iraq · G77 + China · Minister of Health [1:16:26]:

Your Excellency, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, salaam alaikum. I have the honor to deliver this statement on behalf of Group 77 and China. From the onset, the group takes this opportunity to thank the co-chair of the intergovernmental process, the permanent representative of Saint Vincent and the Grandis and Luxembourg for their leadership and hard work. Despite the advance in research and science, the reality remains stark and CDs represent for 70% death worldwide. And every two seconds, someone under the age of 70 dies from NCDs. This has been further aggravated by the high cost of essential medicines, diagnostics, and health technologies, which limit the access and deepen inequalities. This sobering reality demands urgent and accelerated action, grounded in stronger multilateralism, solidarity, and scaled-up financing while recognizing the central role of the health promotion, disease prevention, and universal health coverage in achieving progress against NCDs. Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, our ambition will remain aspiration unless the necessary means of implementation are effectively delivered. In this vein, the Group of 77 and China stresses that our collective effort must be guided by the imperative to save lives by ensuring equitable access to affordable medicine, health technology, financing, and innovation. Against this backdrop, the group highlight the following. First, scaling up innovative financing at all levels is essential to enable national effort for the prevention and control of NCDs. Second, ensure timely, equitable and unhindered access to safe and affordable, effective and quality medicines, vaccine, diagnostic and therapeutics and other health products and technology. Third, the group attached great importance to TRIPS agreement and the Doha Declaration of on the TRIPS agreement and public health as essential instrument to safeguard access to affordable medicines and health technology for all. Fourth, the group acknowledged the pressing need to overcome impediments that the developing countries faces in accessing and equitably benefiting from the digital technology. Fifth, the group underscore the importance of technical assistance, capacity building, technology transfer, and international cooperation to ensure that the digital divide does not widen existing inequalities. Sixth, the Group recognized the importance of addressing key determinants of health, including the eradication of poverty, elimination of hunger and malnutrition, reducing food insecurity, and addressing inequities as a priority for the prevention and control of NCDs, as well as the promotion of mental health, while also prioritizing the health approach to take into account national priorities and circumstances. Seventh, the group underscore that many developing countries will not be able to advance their health sector while they face unilateral coercive measures. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen, in conclusion, the Group of 77 and China reaffirms its resolve to work collectively with strength and solidarity and renewed determination to reduce the burden of NCDs. Together, we can work toward reducing premature mortality and build resilient health system. Wassalamu alaikum. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [1:20:46]:

I thank His Excellency, the Minister of Health of Iraq, on behalf of the Group of 77 and China. I now have the honor to call to the podium His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Al-Wahedi, Minister of Health of Kuwait.


Kuwait · GCC · Minister of Health [1:21:07]:

Thank you, Mr. President. We would like to

deliver this statement on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council. the GCC countries associate themselves to the statement of the G77 and China. Mr. President, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council welcome the draft political declaration that raises a common spirit. We hope that it will be included in the main content of the national and regional policies that will try to uphold the health national policies. Our policies aim at preventing diseases, especially NCDs and mental health, because this is an investment in human capital and sustainable development. The average government expenditure reached 4.5% of the GDP over the past year. All our countries adopt a comprehensive regional framework for the governance of the NCDs. We have established the Gulf Center to counter the NCDs, the Gulf NCD. We establish an active environment that promotes public health. We have adopted a common policy that imposes taxes to prevent the use of products that are harmful to the health, including tobacco and electronic smoking and sweetened beverages. And we also govern the policies to make use that trans fat oils are not used on scale. The mental health and the health in general has been included in our policies. We're raising the quality and capacity of our services, especially the initial care for mental, um, healthcare, including stigma, uh, stigma. We are committed not to leave anyone behind. Therefore, all the countries of the GCC have promoted their health system with specialized public health centers that serve the most weak in the UAE. We've opened village for health. It's very advanced, adopting multi-sectoral and specializations forms. The oncology center also led to an excellent achievements in the, uh, this domain with the CRISPR technology. In other countries, we're undertaking one of impor- one of the most important centers for preventive health in 80 different specializations covering the entire kingdom. We adopt the latest digital and innovative technologies. In the Sultanate of Oman, we've opened the hospital for mental health that provides services for the diagnostics and treatment of mental health for children and adolescents within a strategic national plan that links the healthcare system to ensure a comprehensive healthcare services. In Qatar, there has been a special children and adolescent hospital for autism. providing different treatment, uh, and care with specializations that integrate different fields. In Kuwait, we had the inheritance center that promotes different fields, providing diagnostic, and test services in addition to the treatment. We also provide special service to rare diseases and their families. As was provided for in the political declaration, around 300 million persons have been served, especially for those hard to reach. We call for a health system that responds to the most vulnerable, especially early diagnostic of DNA, also through different centers. This would ensure a fair and just access to healthcare. To conclude, we renew our commitment to promote health and good livelihood to all. We hope that we can deepen our cooperation. Thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [1:26:09]:

Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. Minister of Health of Kuwait. I now have the honor to call to the podium His Excellency, Tedro Habrissa, Secretary of Health of Philippines on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.


Philippines · ASEAN · Secretary of Health [1:26:31]:

Speak on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Health Sector at this high level meeting. NCDs and mental health conditions remain leading causes of disease burden and premature mortality in our region. Further worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, ASEAN remains strongly committed to coordinated and sustained action. Under ASEAN Health Cluster 1 on promoting healthy lifestyles, we are tackling risk factors such as tobacco use, including electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol use, while advancing workplace wellness and digital innovations and mental health integration. We highlight three key regional advancements. First, ASEAN member states are scaling up essential NCD and mental health services, training health workers, developing early detection and community care models, and promoting telemedicine. However, resource and capacity gaps persist. Second, ASEAN has launched the Burden of Disease Network, which tackles the reduction of mortality from the four main NCDs, cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. The ASEAN member states also aim to strengthen civil registration, improve cause of death data, and align methodologies across member states with support from international partners. Third, ASEAN commits to foster domestic resource mobilization, explore strategic partnerships, and alignment with national development plans to ensure long-term, equitable access to care. NCDs and mental health are cross-cutting development priorities, impacting productivity, education, and human rights. We call on the global community to strengthen political and financial commitment support, better data systems, promote integrated primary care, and secure sustainable financing for equitable access. On behalf of the ASEAN health sector, we reaffirm our commitment to achieving SDG 3 and 4 and building inclusive, resilient health systems. Through regional solidarity and global partnerships, we can transform NCD and mental health responses to secure a healthier future for all. Now for the Philippine National Statement. The Philippines reaffirms its enduring commitment to contribute to the global consensus building and collective action to accelerate the prevention and control of NCDs and to advance mental health and well-being. NCDs and mental health remain among the pressing challenges in the Philippines, nearly 70% of our mortality. The burden is greatest among the poorest, rural and disadvantaged communities, underscoring equity as a central principle of our response. Our actions are underpinned by enabling laws. The UHC law advances integrated life course and people-centred health systems through primary health care and mandates 1% of the health budget for health promotion. The mental health law establishes a rights-based, community-oriented model of care. The Sin Tax Reform Act of 2012, with its amendments, the TRAIN and the CREATE laws, imposed excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages and have received harmful consumption while generating predictable earmarked revenues for universal health coverage and NCD services. Anchored in this laws, the Philippines is integrating NCD and mental health care into primary health care. The Philippines' implementation of the Healthy Hearts program, piloted in 2020, demonstrates that protocol-based interventions in the primary healthcare level significantly improve hypertension outcomes. It is now a model for chronic care management with the target of doubling hypertension control rates by 2030. We are prioritizing the health and care workforce, together with the workforce from local government units and the deployment of over 20,000 primary care providers through the National Health Workforce Support System, we equip with evidence-based protocols for NCDs and mental health. The investment case is clear. NCDs cost the Philippines $13.5 billion annually through the healthcare costs and productivity losses. Yet investing $518 million in cost-effective NCD and mental health intervention yields $6.75 in economic returns over 15 years, a 13:1 return. This strengthens the rationale for sustained domestic finance.


GA · Vice-President [1:31:33]:

Thank you, thank you, Secretary of Health of Philippines. I now invite to the podium his Excellency Peter Chanel agavaga Minister of Foreign Affairs and external trade of Solomon Islands on behalf of Pacific Islands Forum


Solomon Islands · Pacific Islands Forum · Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade [1:31:57]:

president Excellency distinguished guests and delegates I bring warm greetings from the Pacific from our blue Pacific continent and speak on behalf of the member states of the Pacific Island Forum with presence in New York and as a voice of our people whose health and well-being are connected to our futures. Mr. President, I subscribe to what has been said by previous speakers. Non-communicable diseases are the leading causes of death in our region, accounting for 75% of deaths. and disease account for increase in hospital admissions in the region, placing stress on our health system. Mental health challenges are rising, especially among our youths. These are new realities our member states and people are having to deal with on a daily basis. Guided by the Pacific Non-Communicable Disease Roadmap, our state governments have implemented physical measures like taxes on sugary drinks and tobacco and alcohol. We are strengthening primary health care, train frontline workers, and integrate NCDs services region-wide, develop regional tools to track progress and drive smarter evidence-based actions. Mr. President, while we are While we've made progresses, critical challenges remain. Industry continues to undermine health gains through the continued promotion of products that fuel NCD crisis. The lack of sustained advocacy has led to low screening. Delayed care and access to services have left too many to suffer in silence. These are issues that demand bold and united actions. The Pacific is charting our own course by revamping the 1995 Healthy Island Vision that embeds health as a cross-cutting issue across the various thematic agenda of our 2050 strategy for the blue Pacific continent. Across the blue Pacific continent, mental health is no longer hidden in silence. Access to healthcare, however, uneven due to the shortage of healthcare professionals. Rising substance use, multidimensional impacts on climate change, and urban drift have amplified the crisis. To truly move forward, we must invest in care and rebuild the health systems matched with resources. While the Pacific is taking bold steps on NCDs and mental health, we welcome enduring partnership to advance smart fiscal policies, strong regulations, and country-led actions to build healthier habits from the start. We also welcome support in strengthening our frontline health workers to better respond to NCDs and mental health and substance uses. I therefore call for a new financing partnership, a partnership that is country-led and driven and explore regional procurement mechanisms. Secondly, we must launch a platform for policy dialogue amongst the small island developing states with WHO to share best practices and financing solutions. Thirdly, assist in designing and implementing health taxes on sugary products, tobacco, and alcohol. Fourthly, explore financing and climate-proof health infrastructure. Fifthly, elevate NCDs and mental health to a wider regional, especially with the Western Pacific Region Office of WHO. develop a healthy financing scorecard to track member states' progress in mobilizing and utilizing resources on NCDs and mental health. Together, we can build a healthier and more resilient Pacific region by building systems that serve our people now and into the future. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:36:09]:

I thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Solomon Islands. I now have an honor to invite To the podium, His Excellency Tlen Makalieve, Commissioner of Intergenerational Finance, Youth, Culture, Sports, European Commission of the European Union, on behalf of the European Union and its member states, to the podium. Your Excellency.


EU · EU · Commissioner [1:36:37]:

Chair, despite progress in the fight against non-communicable diseases, they still represent a substantial burden for citizens, healthcare systems and our societies. Tackling non-communicable diseases remains a top public health priority. The numbers are alarming. Non-communicable diseases killed at least 43 million people in 2021, equivalent to 75% of non-pandemic related deaths globally. In the same year, 18 million people died from non-communicable diseases before the age of 70 years. 82% of these are premature deaths that occur in low and middle income countries. Therefore, much work remains to meet the sustainable development goals we have set concerning non-communicable diseases. I would like to congratulate Luxembourg and St. Vincent and the Grenadines for their stewardship in this process. The political declaration, as negotiated, contains many useful elements which we can make as an indelible contribution to this effort. And as a matter of process, we support its adoption and transmission to the General Assembly. The European Union and its member states are committed to take action that effectively tackles non-communicable diseases. Action in this field has to be comprehensive, addressing common risk factors, underlying determinants, and the impact of economic, commercial, and market factors. It also has to take into account new research and practice in the field of culture, sport, and physical activity. This proves that the arts and culture also have positive outcomes in non-communicable disease prevention, treatment, and management. Both culture and sport foster mental health and well-being at the individual level for children, young people, and for every generation by contributing to social cohesion and combating loneliness. And as we scale up our efforts to achieve these goals, We believe that action at the local and community levels should best focus on health promotion, prevention, early detection and screening, on strengthening primary health care and the workforce, and on enhancing access to health products and services as appropriate. As to the how, we are convinced that the success hinges on health in all policies approach, on adapting to domestic contexts and circumstances, and on maximizing the support of all relevant stakeholders through promotion, voluntary collaboration, and participation by the whole of society. Emerging tools, such as AI and digital forms of assistive technology, can also play a crucial role. Successfully tackling non-communicable diseases and mental health will not only improve the health of citizens, but it will also alleviate strained health budgets and will create a healthier, more productive, and resilient society. While the primary responsibility to meet health challenges rests with national governments, where appropriate, international cooperation can complement national action. The challenge of non-communicable diseases also requires efficient international regulatory frameworks, including rules on intellectual property, with technology transfer on voluntary and on mutually agreed terms that support breakthrough innovation. The WHO, all relevant UN bodies, and global healthcare actors should work together to address this challenge, focusing on their core mandates, avoiding duplication, and ensuring synergies. From our side, the European Union and its member states reaffirm their support and commitment to tackling non-communicable diseases and mental health. We will continue working with partners to progress this work. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:41:04]:

I thank the Commissioner of European Union. I now invite to the podium His Excellency Robert F. Kennedy, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, of the United States of America to the podium. The.


United States of America · Secretary [1:41:31]:

Global epidemic of chronic disease and mental illness. President Trump is leading America in the fight to drive an historic shift from a sick care system to health care. We launched the Make America Healthy Again agenda to confront the root causes of chronic disease, especially for children. We put nutrition, physical fitness, and responsible medicine back at the center of health. That's why we're calling out the truth: Ultra-processed food is driving chronic disease. America has the highest chronic disease burden on Earth. This is both a public health crisis and an economic crisis. We now spend 90% of healthcare costs, about $4 trillion a year, on chronic disease. It's also a national security crisis. Seven out of every 10 American children cannot qualify for military service. America suffers more than anybody else, but this is a global calamity. More than 40 million people die around the world each year from chronic disease, and seven out of the 10 most common causes of death are chronic disease. President Trump wants to lead the effort globally against the ultra-processed foods and the medical and physical illness associated with it. We're calling on the international community to come together to combat this scourge. We cannot defeat the epidemic alone, but the UN's approach is misdirected. It attempts both too little and too much. It exceeds the UN's proper role while ignoring the most pressing health issues. And that's why the United States will reject it. More specifically, we cannot accept language that pushes destructive gender ideology. Neither can we accept claims of a constitutional or international right to abortion. The WHO cannot claim credibility or leadership until it undergoes radical reform. The United States objects to the political declaration of non-communicable diseases Member states decided earlier this year that this meeting should approve a declaration in advance by consensus to ensure this gathering would not be marred by controversy, but the declaration is filled with controversy, with provisions about everything from taxes to oppressive management by international bodies of communicable diseases. The draft declaration before us today should not have been included in today's agenda. The United States will walk away from the declaration, but we will never walk away from the world or our commitment to end chronic disease. We stand ready to lead, to partner, to innovate with every nation committed to a healthier future. We need to.


GA · Vice-President [1:44:34]:

Thank you. I thank the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health. I now have the honor to call to the podium His Excellency Hitler -- Her Excellency Hitler, President of the Republic of Marshall Islands. Your Excellency, the podium is yours.


Marshall Islands · President [1:45:05]:

Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, I speak for the Republic of the Marshall Islands, a small island nation facing a heavy burden, the rising tide of noncommunicable diseases and the urgent threat to mental health. Nearly three out of four deaths in my country are caused by NCDs. 73% of adults are overweight or obese. Almost one in three lives with diabetes, and one in four suffers from hypertension. Even our children face a dual burden of standing and obesity. These numbers are not abstract. They are parents losing limbs to diabetes. They are children denied the chance to thrive. We have built one of the strongest NCD surveillance systems in our region, but data alone will not save lives. We must act, track patient care, strengthen follow-up, and report annually. Only then can we turn numbers into lives saved. At the same time, mental health is a growing crisis. Across our islands, young people struggle with stress, substance abuse, and emotional pain. Services are limited. Stigma silences families. Too many suffer alone without help when it is most needed. Our health struggles cannot be separated from our history. The nuclear legacy has left deep scars, exposing our people to radiation, increasing cancers, and compounding vulnerabilities for generations. NCDs and mental health are not only biological or behavioral issues, they are political and historical. Justice, equity, and solidarity must guide our response. This Assembly faces a decisive moment. NCDs and mental health are central to climate resilience and sustainable development. The Bridgetown Declaration and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS remind us that health is not the cause of progress. It is the foundation of prosperity. For my country, three priorities are clear. Bold global action to put people's health before profit, resilient primary and community health systems, especially for our outer islands communities, and sustained support for surveillance and accountability. The Marshall Islands is ready to act.


GA · Vice-President [1:48:01]:

Thank you, Your Excellency. Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency. Your time is up. Thank you. Thank you. May I now call to the podium, Her Excellency Akmaral Alzharova, Minister of Health of Kazakhstan.


Kazakhstan · Minister of Health [1:48:28]:

Mr. President, distinguished delegates, on behalf of the government of Kazakhstan, I extend greetings to this high-level meeting on preventing noncommunicable diseases. It is a highly topical subject. The growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases is a major concern around the world. Kazakhstan is taking comprehensive measures for the detection, prevention, and control of non-communicable diseases. Early diagnosis and primarily primary healthcare, which plays a key role, working directly in the communities. The patient's first point of contact with the health system, primary care, ensures equitable access to quality and affordable health services. It improves prevention. Health care system today provides national screening programs for the detection of coronary heart disease, arterial hypertension, diabetes, glaucoma, cerebral circulation disorders, cancers, pre-screening for the cancer of cervix uteri has been made accessible to all regardless of whether or not the patient has health insurance. Chronic disease management programs increase adherence to treatment and strengthen. Today, free Outpatient services and medication are provided to all patients under the new system. We're also working to strengthen legislative measures limiting access to tobacco, alcohol, and energy drinks, including banning energy drinks for young people under 21. That's already in effect. On the whole, in Kazakhstan, all entities Violating this law is subject to criminal liability. New adopted standards of nutrition reduce the consumption of salt, sugar, and trans fats. Today, more than 1.7 million children have access to free hot meals. Step by step increase in the duty to be paid by those selling tobacco and alcohol is also part of the program. Kazakhstan is committed to its fight against non-communicable diseases. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [1:51:06]:

I now have the honor to invite to the podium Her Excellency Karmen Jola, the Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia. Your podium is yours.


Estonia · Minister of Social Affairs [1:51:19]:

Your Excellency, distinguished colleagues. We have heard today and will continue to hear powerful messages about the importance of preventing NCDs and supporting mental health. There is hardly a country in the world that would disagree, and Estonia shares these values deeply. We believe that health and well-being must be at the heart of all policies. Prevention is essential, but so is treatment, which is becoming ever more complex and expensive, with new medicines, more people in need, and the need for continuous research and innovation. Yet, as we speak about health and well-being, we cannot ignore the elephant in the room. One of the greatest obstacles to improving mental health and reducing NCDs in Estonia and all Europe is the ongoing war of aggression launched by Russian Federation against Ukraine. Russia bombs hospitals and family medicine centers, kindergartens and schools in Ukraine. It violates the airspace of several European countries and seeks to undermine the sovereignty of others, from Georgia and Belarus to Moldova. How can people possibly preserve their mental health in such an environment, let alone focus on healthy lifestyles? And how can governments focus sufficient resources on health when they must also prepare for war? Because of Russia's aggression, European countries, including Estonia, are forced to spend unprecedented resources on defense. Starting next year, Estonia will spend more than 5% of its GDP on security, resources we would much rather invest in people's health and well-being. We will soon hear a statement from the Russian Federation. Will they speak about mental health and disease prevention? If so, it is deeply hypocritical. Russia's aggression is itself cause of mental health problems. It is one of the reasons why resources are scarce for improving our people's health. And yet, precisely because we care about our people, we will defend every inch of our land together with our allies. We say this clearly to Moscow, end your aggression against other countries, end your war in Ukraine. Only then we can focus fully on mental health, on preventing and treating NCDs, and on building a future where all people can live healthier, longer lives. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:54:22]:

I think The Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia. Let me now call to the podium His Excellency Bute Nana, the Minister of Health and Medical Services of Kiribati. Your Excellency.


Kiribati · Minister of Health and Medical Services [1:54:44]:

Excellencies, I bring warm greetings on behalf of the people of Kiribati on the occasion of this fourth meeting for the very noble and important cause. Like many of our UN family, Kiribati is confronted with a significant public health crisis, categorized by non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses. These are the primary causes of premature mortality, and they exacerbate disability conditions. Sadly, Like many among us today, Kiribati is presently not on course to attain the target of SDG 3 and 4. Our actions to address this issue is critical and significant. Non-communicable disease and mental health conditions are challenges that go beyond health issues. They also pose development challenges. They present significant risk to economic growth and hinder the development of our human capital. They disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable. We need to act now. States, including Kiribati, face additional challenges. The dependence of our economic system on imported foods worsens unhealthy diets and lifestyle risk, which calls for targeted strategies to promote healthier choices and strengthen local food system as part of the national health agenda. We must invest in integrated, well-funded health system. We must focus on strengthening primary health care and ensure referral system connects communities to secondary and tertiary services for specialized care. We recognize that all stakeholders, governments, civil society, and the private sector share responsibility. We must work together to prevent and manage NCDs and promote mental health, mobilizing resources for national responses. In Kiribati, we are establishing a CINTACS-funded health promotion foundation as part of the national effort. We are working on enacting a Tobacco Control Bill 2025 to ban e-cigarettes, expand smoke-free zones, and follow WHO FCTC guidelines. Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Kiribati is committed to change, but we cannot do it alone. We therefore call on our partners and global community to support our efforts to ensure that no one is left behind. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [1:57:39]:

I thank the Minister of Health and Medical Services of Kiribati. May I now call upon His Excellency Dr. Shaya Hossain, Sidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Republic of Yemen.


Yemen · Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates [1:57:57]:

Mr. President.

Chronic illnesses are an international challenge.

It ruins their quality of life, and this has a.

Harmful effect on developing countries, particularly the least developed countries. This increases the cost of health care. We also must concentrate on the prevention of NCDs and fight against them. It is the most effective investment. It will help create more prosperous societies. We also must focus on economic and social development and the areas that are vulnerable and conflict areas. In Yemen, we see an increase in the costs of chronic illnesses because the health system suffers amidst the crisis. Those who suffer from NCDs, such as diabetes, cancer, and others, face challenges that threaten their health because they don't have access to health in the midst of crisis situations. We must fight against NCDs. particularly in conflict and emergency situations, this will help us save lives. NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension, and asthma are lethal. If there is a crisis situation, that's why we must support health systems in these crucial moments. This would have a significant impact. Countries throughout the world have made great efforts to fight against NCDs and control them, but we must recognize that these challenges are not the challenge of a single country. We must work together through shared efforts. We must exchange information and resources with the private sector, governments, and international organizations. We must work in order to provide universal coverage and this includes displaced people and those in conflict areas and those who face NCDs who do not who are facing crisis situations we are willing to work with all of our partners in partnerships to respond to these needs we must focus particularly on the LCDs and health systems.


GA · Vice-President [2:01:01]:

Excellency your time is up I now have The honor to call to the podium, His Excellency Budi Gunadi Sadikin, Minister of Health of Indonesia.


Indonesia · Minister of Health [2:01:18]:

Mr. President, Excellencies, the greatest health crisis of our generations is not sudden or loud. It is silent, yet devastating. It is a non-communicable diseases. In recent decades, the number of life lost to NCDs has surpassed those lost to communicable diseases. What we need is not an isolated action, but global and collective actions. Indonesia is pleased to join the consensus of the political declarations of the fourth high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases and the promotion of mental health and well-being. We actively engage in its discussion, coordinating closely at the global and national level, and it will be regrettable if we cannot turn this discussion into political commitment. Yet we know policy and discussions without implementation cannot save lives. Therefore, Indonesia has stepped forward to turn policy into concrete actions. In February this year, we launched our most ambitious program, the annual free health screening for 280 million people. At the pace of 500,000 screening every day, we aim to reach 50 million people by the end of this year. The program integrates 20 screenings for NCDs and mental health at the primary care level. To make this possible, we are revitalizing 10,000 primary health care facilities across more than 7,000 inhabited islands in this country, standardizing, equipping, and digitalizing them. Further, we are equipping our secondary and tertiary facilities with advanced treatment capacity, especially for NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, stroke, cancer, and kidney diseases with a $4 billion financing support we received last year from the global development banks. We are ensuring that all Indonesians get access to health care they need, leaving no one behind, in line with this year's powerful theme, equity and integrations. Excellency, we cannot remain silent. the declaration must become a tool for real transformations so that the promises made in New York are felt in 85,000 villages and 514 cities across Indonesia and indeed across the world. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:04:15]:

I thank the Minister of Health of Indonesia. I now call upon His Excellency Usain Isse, Minister of Health of Mozambique. The podium is yours, Your Excellency.


Mozambique · Minister of Health [2:04:32]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Mozambique welcomes the selection of this theme for today's high-level meeting. While Mozambique continues to face a heavy burden of communicable disease, the country is also experiencing a concerning increase in NCDs, including trauma and mental health illness. Between 2007 and 2019, the burden of chronic NCDs doubled and mortality reached alarming levels, increasing fourfold. Today, NCDs, including mental illness, make up almost half of the emergency cases in majority hospitals across our country. The 2024 survey on the prevalence and risk factor of chronic disease revealed that between 2005 and 2025, alcohol consumption, inactivity, and obesity rose sharply, while fruits and vegetable consumption declined. This finding highlights the urgent need for coordinated and multi-sectoral intervention grounded on solid scientific evidence. To reverse this alarming trend, the government of Mozambique is rolling up a comprehensive multi-sectorial set for intervention, including approval, the implementation of Mozambique multi-sectorial strategy plan for prevention and control NCD, adoption and implementation of PEN+ strategy, which prioritized the integrated management of NCDs, including mental health and primary health care. Approval and implementation, the national SUCCEED intervention plan, which focus on multi-sectoral approach. Approval and implementation of regulatory measurement to reduce the marketing and consumption of alcohol, particularly among young people. establishment of National Commission of Social Determinants of Health and the National Health Observatory to generate scientific evidence to inform strategic decision within the framework on health in all policies. In conclusion, we reaffirm our commitment as a country to working together and advancing strategy to prevent and control NCDs, including mental health, to ensure better health and the well-being for all Mozambicans. I thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [2:07:16]:

I thank the Minister of Health of Mozambique. I now call upon His Excellency Martin De Preys, Minister of Health and Social Security of Luxembourg. Your Excellency.


Luxembourg · Minister of Health and Social Security [2:07:33]:

Thank you, dear presidents.

And cities. are among the most significant and most extensive problems today. Each one of us, as was mentioned by the Chair this morning, may suffer or may know somebody who suffers from them. These illnesses are a significant burden for our healthcare systems, our budgets, and our societies. Thus, we must accelerate measures in order to prevent them and control them, and redouble our efforts in order to reach the goals that we've already established in 2015: reduce by one-third to the death rate due to these illnesses and focus on mental health and well-being. I am pleased because the meeting today allowed for the finalization of a well-oriented declaration, and we're pleased to co-facilitate the negotiations that led to this declaration. I would like to thank our team, particularly the team of St. Vincent and the Grendine's who worked hand in hand with the support of the WHO and with all of the delegations in order to reach a text that includes the largest, the broadest consensus possible. This includes strong commitments and for the first time, global goals that are concrete. By 2030, we want 115 million people fewer smoking. 150 million people who would have their hypertension under control, and 150 million additional people who have access to mental health services. The declaration also includes sustainable goals in various areas, particularly the availability of technology and essential medicines in primary health care, and the implementation of monitoring systems to keep track of progress. I am particularly pleased by the focus on mental health. According to the WHO, nearly a billion people in the world suffer from mental health problems. The political declaration encourages us to adopt measures in order to fight against stigmatization, which is connected to mental health. It also encourages the states to share technology in order to better deal with the mental health challenges people face. And furthermore, it calls upon the private sector to strengthen its contribution to this cause. Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, It is now time to act. The political declaration is our roadmap. Let us implement it so that in six years, in the next meeting, we can see that we have made significant progress to prevent and control NCDs and promote the health and well-being of all, without leaving anyone behind. Thank you for your kind attention.


GA · Vice-President [2:10:22]:

I thank the Minister of Health of Luxembourg. I now call upon His Excellency Slivya Petrova, Minister of Health of Bulgaria. Your Excellency.


Bulgaria · Minister of Health [2:10:43]:

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, Colleagues, Bulgaria aligns itself with the EU statement and welcomes the global efforts on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases, on the promotion of mental health and well-being. We are consumed by the slowdown in global progress towards target 3.4. Therefore, Bulgaria highly appreciates the efforts of the UN to prioritize the prevention and control of chronic non-communicable diseases in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The political declaration that we support to be adopted is an expression of the need to take universal action. One aspect is essential and it is the leading competence of the Member State when it comes to the functioning of the health care systems. However, sharing of common principles, experience and good practices is priceless. Bulgaria has implemented several successive national programs for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases for more than 10 years, following the cross-sectorial approach and focusing on limiting risk factors, early detection, monitoring and assessment of the spread of the leading NCDs. The new one is to be enacted for the next 5 years period to highlight that disease prevention and health promotion activities are promoted in also by a very well developed network of health mediators. It is growing annually and for 10 years period it increased by approximately 250 mediators. Two screening campaigns are to be launched in 2025 for colon and cervical cancer, thus providing screening for over 4 million Bulgarian citizens. Gradually the focus on outpatient medical care is increasing in our country, which cost increasingly by over 216% from 2018 to 2023. Last but not least, our oral health is an integral part of the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Therefore, in November 2024, the World Health Organization held the first global meeting on oral health in Bangkok to accelerate and expand national efforts in this area. A declaration was adopted to establish a global coalition for oral health. Bulgaria expresses confidence that improving the prevention and control of NCDs and increasing the effectiveness of international cooperation in the field of health will lead to improve health and well-being at a global level. Thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:13:44]:

Bulgaria. I now call upon His Excellency Tau Fafa Latasi, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Tuvalu. Your Excellency.


Tuvalu · Minister of Health and Social Welfare [2:13:57]:

Chair, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, Talofa. In Tuvalu, more than 70% of all deaths are attributed to NCDs. This is not only a health crisis, it is a development challenge, an economic burden, and a serious threat to our national resilience. Limited access to affordable, nutritious food, combined with high reliance on imported, processed, high-sugar and high-fat products, has contributed to unhealthy diets. This is further compounded by limited infrastructure for physical activities, increasing tobacco and alcohol use, and constrained access to quality health services. Chair, despite these challenges, Tuvalu remains committed to action. Our national NCD strategic plan 2022-2026 sets out our roadmap to reduce behavioral risk factors and identify that risk early. Tuvalu stands to support the political declaration and call for increased international support in technical cooperation, financing, and partnerships to strengthen our health system, improve access to essential medicine, and create healthier environment. Prevention must remain at the heart of our efforts, from promoting breastfeeding and healthy school meals to regulating harmful substance and encouraging active living. Early intervention is both cost-effective and life-saving. In conclusion, addressing NCDs is not just about treatment; it is about promoting equity, ensuring sustainability, and building resilience. For Tuvalu, as for other small island developing states, building healthy communities is essential to securing a sustainable and thriving future. Fa'afetai, thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:16:02]:

I thank the Minister of Health and Social Welfare. I now call upon His Excellency, the Minister of Health of Ghana, to the podium. Your Excellency.


Ghana · Minister of Health [2:16:17]:

Thank you, Mr. President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen. Ghana appreciates the opportunity to contribute to this significant issue. The fight against non-communicable diseases and mental health issues is no longer a silent crisis. It is a daily reality for families, communities, and our healthcare system. Behind the statistics we share are real people, our brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, and even ourselves. Effective responses will rely on integrating services within primary healthcare, strengthening accountability, and addressing the commercial, social, economic, environmental determinants of health. That is why in Ghana, we have chosen to act boldly. We are integrating WHO's PEN and PEN Plus frameworks into primary healthcare, training and empowering community health workers to manage hypertension and diabetes, embedding NCD risk assessment in routine services so people are diagnosed early, not too late. And through the free primary healthcare and our Ghana Medical Trust Fund, We are breaking financial barriers so treatment does not push families into poverty. But our response extends beyond clinics and medicines. We intentionally listen to people with lived experiences, especially young people, because their voices influence better policies and foster greater trust. Excellencies, success will depend on more than health ministries alone. We need sustainable financing, essential medicines and diagnostics in every community, and courageous action on the commercial determinants of health. We must be accountable through data, fairness, and openness. And we must confront stigma by decriminalizing suicide, deinstitutionalizing care, and adapting inclusive community-based solutions. This fourth UN High-Level Meeting is a call to conscience.

We have no excuse.

We cannot fail.

On behalf of Ghana, I reaffirm our commitment to equity, to integration, and to the conviction that every life matters. Together, let us turn our words into action and our commitment into hope realized.

I thank you for the opportunity.


GA · Vice-President [2:18:37]:

Thank you, Honorable Minister of Health of Ghana. May I now call upon His Excellency Christopher, Minister of Health and Wellness of Jamaica.


Jamaica · Minister of Health and Wellness [2:18:52]:

Excellencies, for Jamaica, the fight against non-communicable diseases and mental health challenges is deeply personal. These conditions affect almost every family, touching loved ones in the prime of their lives and robbing too many of their health, dignity, and economic security. NCDs are responsible for the majority of deaths in our country. In 2021, for example, NCDs, notably stroke, diabetes, and heart disease, were among the top five causes of death in Jamaica. We have also seen a rise in premature mortality, underscoring the urgency of more concerted efforts across sectors and stakeholders. The economic burden is equally profound, and without decisive intervention, Jamaica stands to lose billions of US dollars by 2030. And we are not alone. Other Caribbean small island developing states are similarly affected. For us, this is not just a health crisis, but a looming threat to national development and resilience. We have not stood still, however, advancing many programs, including our physical activity program, Jamaica Moves, tobacco-free legislation, access to more medicines, and primary health care reform to tackle the challenge of prevention at the community level. Despite these achievements, Jamaica is not on track to achieve the SDG target 3.4 to reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases. The prevalence of NCDs and their risk factors continue to increase, and many Jamaicans have more than one of these conditions. We are now finalizing a 10-year, multisectoral national NCD plan to accelerate our response, but we cannot do this alone. Stronger global cooperation to address the commercial drivers of NCDs and to mobilize financing are needed. Greater technology transfer so that SIDS such as Jamaica and others of the Caribbean can access, adapt and benefit from the same life-saving tools and innovations that wealthier nations already use without prohibitive costs or delays. Greater focus on the reform of primary health care as a means of prevention must continue. Greater collaboration to ensure human resources for health is sufficient in sufficient numbers and competencies, overcoming challenges, including migration, a lack of health professionals, and an unequal distribution of health workers across rural and urban areas in our small developing countries must be tackled. Mr. President, Jamaica remains resolute. We believe that with bold action and genuine partnership, we can prevent avoidable deaths, reduce inequalities, and give our people, especially our youth, the opportunity to live long, healthy, and productive lives. Let us not allow preventable diseases to continue to steal futures.


GA · Vice-President [2:21:54]:

I thank the Minister of Health of Jamaica. I now call upon His Excellency Mohamed, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia.


Tunisia · Minister of Foreign Affairs [2:22:10]:

In the name of God, the merciful, the compassionate. Peace and blessings be on the Prophet Muhammad. Mr. President, Your Excellencies, It is my honor to participate on behalf of the Republic of Tunisia in this high-level meeting on non-communicable diseases, which represent, according to the WHO's statistics, the primary cause of mortality in the world, 70 deaths every two seconds. I would like to thank the Secretary General for the valuable report presented in cooperation with the WHO in line with the preparation for our meeting today on the the progress achieved in this domain to prevent NCDs and control them. We would like to acknowledge the conclusions that stated that progress was slow on four main targets of the SDGs to limit early deaths that result from these NCDs by third in 2030. We commend the political declaration that has been adopted today, which is a clear roadmap, quite ambitious, with the different recommendations included that promote the effective prevention from NCDs and the integration of mental health in the national strategies. It also ensures the just health care without leaving anyone behind. Tunisia is keen and committed to implement these recommendations to accelerate the implementation of the third SDG. Mr. President, in Tunisia, the NCDs represent especially the diabetes and strokes or cardiovascular diseases and others, 60% of the expenses on health. Therefore, Tunisia, in cooperation with the WHO, for over 10 years, have prepared a multi-sectoral national strategy to counter these diseases. They have been translated into programs that promote the prevention and awareness and enhancing the quality of healthcare provided. It also expands access to essential medication, including mental health also in the primary healthcare. We've relied on scientific indexes and monitoring reports to ensure progress in the NCDs.


GA · Vice-President [2:25:13]:

I thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tunisia. Thank you, Your Excellency. Your time is up. May I now call upon His Excellency Peter, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary. Your Excellency.


Hungary · Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade [2:25:35]:

Thank you so much, Mr. Chair, dear colleagues. The Constitution of Hungary says very clearly that all of our citizens do have the right to a mental and physical health. And good health is, on its own, is a very significant individual and social value, but in the meantime, it's a very important source of strength as well when it comes to our competitiveness and well-being. Since COVID, it became obvious that the focus of the global cooperation has been put on the fight against the viruses. But I do believe that decreasing the risk of the non-communicable diseases must be an important topic of international cooperation as well. putting forward that health policy must be a national competence, and all countries do have their own right to make their decisions regarding their own health care systems. And in the meantime, we have to make sure that international cooperation in the field of health care must not be over-politicized. Now, when it comes to fighting non-communicable diseases, we in Hungary put the focus on prevention. How we do it? Three main ways. First, that we develop our sports infrastructure with huge steps, because we do believe that the more children, the more young people do sports, the less risk they will face when it comes to chronic and non-communicable diseases. And we all know that nowadays, the digital world is a temptation, and we do have to offer a competitive alternative to the young people. Therefore, development of sports infrastructure is kind of making the alternative of the digital world more attractive to the young people and the children. Second, we push back very strongly on smoking. Tobacco industry is a very strongly regulated industry in Hungary and a very strongly regulated market. And Hungary totally subscribes to the framework convention of the WHO on tobacco control. And third, through a program of managing chronic diseases, we make it possible. for the patients to receive the successful and necessary therapies already with the family doctors, so they are not forced to go to a hospital at the first step. Finally, I'd like to make a pledge that Hungary will continue to cooperate on the international field to develop the capacities of the last developed countries when it comes to fighting non-communicable diseases. Thank you so much.


GA · Vice-President [2:28:34]:

Thank you. Thank you, Honorable Minister of Foreign Affairs. of Hungary. Thank you so much. May I now call upon His Excellency, Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Nicaragua. Your Excellency, the floor is yours.


Nicaragua · Minister of External Relations [2:29:03]:

We subscribe the statement made by Iraq on behalf of the G77 and China. We thank the convening of this high-level meeting. And we reiterate our commitment to health as a fundamental human right. It's a pillar of our family health system, our community health system, based on equity, universality, equity, and solidarity. For our country, health is part of the common good and the right to live in dignity, fully aligned with the 2030 agenda. In light of the growing global challenges, it is necessary that we strengthen international cooperation and multilateralism, ensuring universal access to health without discrimination and always respecting the sovereignty of states. Non-communicable diseases and mental health problems are a growing threat, particularly in developing countries, where the lack of coverage, financing, and prevention increases inequality and limits access to comprehensive care. Nicaragua prioritizes prevention and primary care, strengthening capabilities at the community level with mobile clinics, local centers to bring services closer to people. Between 2007 and 2025, we built 24 hospitals, we remodeled more than 70, and created more than 1,700 health centers throughout the country. These investments improved diagnostics and mental health care, even in rural areas or areas that are hard to reach. This progress reflects our firm commitment to the comprehensive well-being of our people. But these efforts are undermined by unilateral coercive measures imposed against developing countries. It limits our ability to ensure a universal health care system that is equitable and resilient. We firmly reject these practices that are contrary to international law. They undermine prevention and providing care against NCDs and also ensuring mental health. We also denounce the occupation and the aggression of Israel, which has destroyed the health infrastructure in Palestine, depriving millions of people of the basic services they need, undermining the health of entire generations. The UN must act urgently in order to ensure that the Palestinian people can enjoy the right to life and health.


GA · Vice-President [2:32:04]:

I thank the Honorable Minister of External Relations of the Republic of Nicaragua. I now call upon Her Excellency Monica Mutsvangara, Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development of Zimbabwe.


Zimbabwe · Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development [2:32:26]:

Thank you, Mr. President, your excellencies, distinguished guests. Non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions are among the greatest health and development challenges of our time. In Zimbabwe, they erode life expectancy, they strain health systems, weaken economic productivity. The government has integrated NCDs and mental health into our national health strategy and universal health coverage agenda. We are reducing risk factors through measures such as levies on sugar, sweetened beverages and tobacco, while expanding access to community screening and treatment for hypertension, diabetes, and cervical cancer. A growing challenge we face is drug and substance abuse, particularly among the youth. This fuels both the burden of NCDs and the mental health crisis. In response, we have prioritized our substance and drug abuse reduction program, which combines prevention, treatment, and public awareness. Women's health is central to our approach. Through the Women's Integrated Cancer Services and Cervical Cancer elimination by 2030 initiative, we are expanding vaccination, screening, and treatment. On forthcoming national cancer control plan 2025-2030 provides a coordinated roadmap for prevention and care. Yet challenges remain. Limited fiscal space, fragile supply chains, high out-of-pocket costs, brain drain, and the impact of unilateral cohesive measures. These realities demand stronger international solidarity. We call for affordable access to medicines and diagnostics, support for digital health innovations, capacity building, sustainable financing for primary health care, and greater investment in workforce retention. Mr. President, this meeting must be a turning point towards tangible action, reducing avoidable death, closing the mental health divide and tackling substance abuse head on. Zimbabwe stands ready to work with all partners in advancing health, dignity, and sustainable development for all. I thank you, Mr. President.


GA · Vice-President [2:34:51]:

Thank you. Thank you, Honorable Minister of Women Affairs of the Republic of Zimbabwe. May I now call upon His Excellency Arnaldo Anteri, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Costa Rica, to the podium. Your Excellency.


Costa Rica · Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship [2:35:16]:

Mr. President, Excellencies, according to the WHO, non-communicable diseases are responsible for more than 70% of deaths worldwide. This makes them a central challenge for public health and the global development agenda. They cannot be understood or combated in isolation. They are closely linked to lifestyles, social determinants, and our shared environment. Allow me to highlight three priorities for advancing their control. First, it is essential that we guarantee equitable access to medicines, diagnostics, and therapies. 86% of deaths from non-communicable diseases occur in low and middle income countries. Costa Rica calls for strengthened local and regional capacities, particularly through public investment in research and development. Second, technological innovation and digital health must be key tools for closing gaps in access to health services. Digital interventions can reduce care costs by up to 20% in rural and remote areas. Therefore, Costa Rica urges the promotion of the use of technologies such as telemedicine and artificial intelligence. always based on scientific evidence, with a focus on equity, and adapted to the context of each country. Third, it is urgent that we increase international cooperation and ensure sustainable financing. The WHO estimates that an additional investment of $1.27 per person per year could save 7 million lives over the next decade. Costa Rica calls for redoubling efforts in technical and financial cooperation and for the full integration of health into sustainable development strategies. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [2:37:41]:

I thank the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Worship of the Republic of Costa Rica. I now have the honor to call upon Excellency Sanni Grahn-Laenninen, Minister of Social Security of Finland. Your Excellency.


Finland · Minister of Social Security [2:38:01]:

Honourable President, Your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen. Finland aligns itself with the statement by the European Union and its member states. Finland endorses the adoption of the joint political declaration and the commitment to the NCD agenda. We see that the prevention of non-communicable diseases with inclusion of mental health, should be integrated across sectors and policies, including education, climate and labor markets. Effective prevention requires whole of government and whole of society approach. NCDs are largely preventable through structural measures that support healthy lifestyles. Health taxation is one key tool in this effort. Taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugar sweetened beverages have been used to influence both demand and supply as an incentive to healthier choices, the promotion of health and functional capacity. is essential for the aging population. We must ensure safe physical, mental, and digital environments that promote healthy lifestyles at different stages of the life course and foster meaningful social relationships. These elements, in turn, contribute to stronger, more resilient communities. An important priority is to ensure that access to universal health coverage includes comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services. NCDs related sexual and reproductive health must be addressed appropriately and sexual and reproductive health and rights made attainable for everyone. We emphasize the relevance of continuing the work of Economics of Health for All, underlining the mutually reinforcing nature of well-being and economic growth. We recognize that investing in the prevention of NCDs is a strategic economic choice. Health and well-being are drivers for inclusive and sustainable growth. To conclude, we would like to underline the critically important leadership role of the WHO in global health during the UN80 process as the only organization with a normative mandate in health. Thank you very much.


GA · Vice-President [2:40:25]:

I thank the Honorable Minister of Social Security of Finland. I now have the honor to call to the podium His Excellency Roland Soma, Minister of Sports, Youth and Employment of the Republic of Burkina Faso, Your Excellency.


Burkina Faso · Minister of Sports, Youth and Employment [2:40:51]:

Mr. President, we extend greetings to this fourth high-level meeting, which demonstrates our collective commitment to fighting non-communicable diseases and promoting mental health. Ladies and gentlemen, under the leadership of His Excellency Captain Ibrahim Bouare, Burkina Faso is working tirelessly and has allocated 12% of its state budget to health care. In spite of major humanitarian and security-related challenges, we aim to provide high-quality health care to the population, focusing on prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Among other actions, I could cite the following: addressing major non-communicable diseases under the WHO pen delivery system, starting the pen plus system to fight type 1 diabetes, sickle cell anemia, rheumatism, and hypertension. deploying in urban and rural areas 15 mobile clinics offering free service to the population, particularly with regard to precancerous lesions of the uterus. Radiation therapy for cancer patients has expanded greatly. We should also note the deployment of scanner systems for providing MRI scans to the public. The cost of dialysis for the general public has been reduced by 80% and made more accessible. President Burkina Faso has crossed a historic line by successfully carrying out the first kidney transplant in Ouagadougou on 29 July. The activities of the National Reference Center for Physical Medicine have also included creating a nationwide network of physiotherapy centers. On a national scale, we address dialysis, radiation therapy, physiotherapy throughout the country. In the area of mental health, Burkina Faso recognizes the urgency of these efforts. Healthcare providers in security-challenged areas are trained to provide particularly valuable mental health support to those affected. The government has introduced an integrated national strategic plan for combating non-communicable diseases.


GA · Vice-President [2:43:54]:

Excellency, thank you, thank you. I now have an honor to call His Excellency Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health of the Republic of South Africa, my neighbor. Your Excellency, the podium is yours.


South Africa · Minister of Health [2:44:14]:

South Africa strongly supports the fourth high-level meeting on the prevention and control of non-communicable disease and the promotion of mental health and well-being. As the current G20 President, South Africa is committed to a global health agenda focused on equality, solidarity, and sustainability. This high-level meeting, therefore, provides an opportunity to intensify collective efforts to prevent and control NCDs and promote mental well-being globally. South Africa reaffirms its commitment to reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030, in line with SDG target 3.4. We emphasize the importance of integrated, people-centered health systems that prioritize prevention, early detection, and quality care, particularly at primary health care level. We welcome the political declaration and support commitments to expand access to quality-assured and affordable medicines, and technologies, implement WHO best buys, strengthen primary health care systems, and integrate mental health into universal health coverage frameworks. We also endorse bold actions to regulate the marketing of unhealthy food to children, reduce harmful use of alcohol, and promote tobacco control in all its ramifications, and address social and commercial determinants.

Of health.

Furthermore, we call for increased and sustained domestic and international financing for NCDs and mental health, as well as greater inclusion of these priorities in the mandate of global health funding mechanisms. We highlight the importance of multilateral cooperation, research, and digital health innovation to close persistent gaps in access and outcome, especially in low and middle income countries. South Africa emphasizes that the lived experience of people affected by NCDs and mental health conditions must inform policy and program implementation across the life cycle. We support the inclusion of civil society and people with lived experience in planning, implementation, governance, and accountability processes. In conclusion, South Africa supports the targets outlined in the political declaration, including 80% country coverage of essential NCD and mental health services at primary health care level, and financial protection for essential services by 2030. I thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:47:06]:

I thank the Honorable Minister of Health of the Republic of South Africa. I now have the honor to call to the podium, His Excellency, Monzo bin Ibrahim, Minister of Public Health of Qatar. Your Excellency.


Qatar · Minister of Public Health [2:47:25]:

Thank you very much. Let me begin by extending my congratulations to Ms. Annalena Baerbock on her election as President of the 80th Session of the General Assembly.

I wish her every success in her duties.

I also wish to thank the mediators for their efforts. I also welcome the efforts of the chair who negotiates the political declaration that will be adopted here. We support the statement made on behalf of the G77 and China. Mr. Chairman, we are meeting here today on the subject of integrity and to strengthen the work and the fight in this area to strengthen mental health and well-being. This represents international efforts to address the various challenges and efforts to strengthen well-being and mental health, as well as the achievement of the SDGs, especially the one on reducing mortality. To achieve these objectives, the State of Qatar has adopted practical measures. We have a national strategy on health by 2030, and the reduction of mortality with regard to NCDs is one of our priorities. We work in order to reduce these diseases by 36 percent. We have a national campaign on obesity and cardiovascular diseases, as well as a campaign concerning oral health and chronic illnesses. We participate in the training of professionals in these areas at the various universities. We also work on diagnostics based on AI, and this is in cooperation with the Qatar Institute on Health. We also work with international partners, including WHO and the Council of Health for Gulf States, as well as the Gulf Center. The State of Qatar has strengthened its efforts and services on mental health, and against tobacco use. Ladies and gentlemen, this progress reflects our conviction that health is a pillar of socioeconomic development, and we are prepared to continue our efforts and to work side by side with all -- thank you.


GA · Vice-President [2:50:29]:

I now call upon her Excellency, Narujani, the advisor of the Minister of Health and Family Welfare of Bangladesh. Your Excellency.


Bangladesh · Advisor [2:50:48]:

Honorable Chair, Bangladesh is facing a growing crisis of non-communicable disease and mental health issues. Today, 21% of all that in our country are due to NCDs. with around 300,000 premature deaths each year. Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and diabetes are taking lives before age of 70. Over 45% of adults use smoking or non-smoking tobacco. Two-thirds of adolescents are leading sedentary lifestyle. One in four adults is hypertensive, and one in 10 has diabetes. Mental health conditions affect nearly one in five adults and 12% of our children and adolescents, with an estimated 6,000 suicides annually. Yet, despite these challenges, Bangladesh has made significant progress. On 20 August 2025, 35 ministers signed a joint declaration for multi-sectoral action on NCDs prevention and control, a historic commitment to institutionalized whole of government and health in all policies approach. We have established around 432 NCDs corners nationwide in primary health care center, integrated a digital registry for hypertension and diabetics. 1.5 million of people receiving NCDs care as a package, implemented national treatment protocol for key NCDs, and ensured free essential medicine at primary health care facilities with referral to NCD center in secondary and tertiary care government hospital and successfully protected heart attack and stroke in more than 10,000 patients within five years. Still gaps remain. Access to diagnosis and essential medicine is limited. Mental health service must expand. Enforcement of policies and social commercial determined is weak. Therefore, Bangladesh call on international community to support affordable access to diagnostics and essential medicine, expand mental health and suicide prevention programs, invest in health system and digital innovation for patient monitoring and referral networks, collaborate to address social and commercial determinants. Bangladesh is committed to the SDGs. sustainable development goal and to the WHO goal of reducing premature NCD death by one third by 2030.


GA · Vice-President [2:53:54]:

Thank you. Thank you, Your Excellency. Your time is up. May I now call upon His Excellency, Asmund Grueve, Minister of International Development of Norway. Your Excellency, the podium is yours.


Norway · Minister of International Development [2:54:15]:

Thank you, Chair. The burden of NCDs and mental health challenges are undeniable. And after tough negotiations, we support the adaptation of this text. While there is a lot of merit in it, it is, however, weaker in its commitment than we had hoped. especially with regard to taxes on harmful products and the value placed on evidence-based interventions. We can prevent the burden of NCD and mental health conditions through policy, legislation and regulation. Measures must be effective and evidence-based. I want to highlight the important normative role of the World Health Organization in this regard. The primary reason for health taxes is public health, but we must also emphasize their economic justification through reduced treatment costs and increased productivity. Health taxes can be an important step toward achieving universal health coverage, especially in low and middle income countries. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. Norway is proud to have been the first country to ratify the Convention. It is a proof that countries can agree on effective public health measures. Social inequalities and commercial interests contribute to the burden of disease. We have implemented a ban on marketing of unhealthy food and beverages that target children. Despite being one of the most significant and preventable NCD risks, air pollution is barely mentioned. We must strengthen our efforts to address mental health conditions, especially among young people. I want also to acknowledge the important role of civil society in shaping inclusive and effective NCD policies. We have all worked hard for a declaration. Although it does not go as far as we have hoped, let us all now support its adoption. It is in our responsibility to turn words into action. Thank you, Chair.


GA · Vice-President [2:56:58]:

Okay.

I think his Excellency, Edmund Gover, Minister of International Development in Norway.