World Health Day - Publication by the WHO of the Report of the Third Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative and Monaco's Declaration

The Prince's Government attaches particular importance to the activities of the World Health Organization (WHO), the anniversary of which is celebrated annually by the United Nations on 7 April with a world day devoted to health.

The Principality plays an active part in the work of the WHO and is one of the Organization's top 40 donors.  It is particularly involved in combating non-communicable diseases, especially mental health-related illnesses, and strongly supported including a target for these issues in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

More generally, the Principality's action for global health and the achievement of SDG 3, which is devoted to health, is based on combating communicable diseases, strengthening countries' ability to reduce health risks and a tireless commitment to issues that link health and the environment.

On this latter issue, and in line with the commitment of H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince to sustainable development, Monaco plays an active role in the Small Countries of Europe initiative for the implementation of the WHO's 2020 Health Policy Framework.  On 11 and 12 October 2016, the Principality hosted the third high-level meeting of this initiative, in the presence of Ms. Zsuzsanna Jakab, Director of the WHO's Regional Office for Europe.

This meeting, a report on which was recently published by the WHO, led to the adoption on 12 October 2016 of the "Monaco Statement" on "Health in all policies, health in all SDGs: call for action on climate change."

The Monaco Statement illustrates the Principality's commitment to sustainable health in a healthy environment by highlighting the importance of combating climate change and its impact on health and the considerable strengths of small countries in implementing innovative policies.

Link to the Report of the Third High Level Meeting:

http://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/andorra/publications/meeting-report-of-the-third-high-level-meeting-of-small-countries-2017

Link to Monaco's Declaration:

http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/334298/The-Monaco-manifesto-en.pdf