GENEVA: The World Health Organization's (WHO) Executive Board (EB150) recently held its 150th session. The board applauded the updated draught global oral health strategy and unanimously recommended that it be approved by the World Health Assembly.
Many of the recommendations made by the FDI World Dental Federation in our joint response, which was supported by 65 organisations, were incorporated into the updated strategy, which also called for the inclusion of oral health considerations across several non-communicable diseases (NCD) agenda items.
The EB150 was used to reinforce this messaging and to show solidarity with other NCD organisations and the World Health Professions Alliance in working together to protect the health of global communities.
Ensuring the latest developments on oral health care aligned with the NCD response
FDI collaborated with the International Association for Dental Research (IADR) and the NCD Alliance to align the draught outline of the NCD implementation road map 2023–2030 to advance the global action plan for NCD prevention and control (NCD GAP) with the most recent developments in oral health as a core component of the NCD agenda.
While FDI recognises that the future road map is intended to focus on existing NCD targets and the "4 by 4" NCD agenda, it should be noted that the current outline specifies that it will include all of WHO's recommended interventions and technical packages on NCDs.
The World Health Professions Alliance (WHPA), which includes FDI, the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP), the International Council of Nurses (ICN), World Physiotherapy, and the World Medical Association (WMA), also made a statement on this agenda item. The statement requested that WHO recognise that health professionals are the driving force behind the advancement of NCD targets and, as such, must be involved in the development and implementation of the NCD implementation road map 2023–2030.
More developments needed on alcohol control, diabetes and obesity prevention and care
FDI has also worked to raise awareness about the two-way relationship that exists between diabetes and periodontal health. Diabetes increases the risk of periodontal disease, and periodontal disease treatment lowers blood glucose levels. Diabetes prevention and management are critical to avoiding complications such as periodontitis; thus, improvements to diabetes and obesity prevention and care are relevant for the oral health community.
Obesity prevention is inextricably linked to increased efforts to reduce sugar consumption, as recommended by WHO sugar intake guidelines to reduce both unhealthy weight gain and dental caries. The recommended obesity targets also include an intermediate outcome target, which suggests implementing the WHO recommendation to reduce free sugar intake to less than 10% of total energy intake in both adults and children.
As part of the NCD agenda, the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan was also discussed and approved at EB150. FDI supported Movendi International's statement welcoming this document while also raising concerns about industry interference, requesting more resources and monitoring for the action plan, and stronger policies on alcohol taxation and cross-border marketing.
Because of its social implications and association with a higher prevalence of traumatic dental injuries, alcohol policy is a critical area for the oral health response. Oral health professionals can also help by conducting brief alcohol awareness interventions with their patients.
Protecting and promoting breastfeeding as part of the maternal, infant and young child nutrition agenda
As part of the World Health Organization's (WHO) reporting exercise on the maternal, infant, and young child nutrition agenda, FDI signed on to a constituency statement calling for the protection and promotion of breastfeeding as a powerful and cost-effective policy to save lives and improve health by protecting children against overweight and obesity, dental caries, and diet-related NCDs such as cancer.
Breastmilk substitutes containing free sugars raise the risk of early childhood caries (ECC). As part of this, Member States must enact and enforce legal measures to strengthen the implementation and monitoring of the International Code of Breast-milk Substitutes Marketing, including digital marketing strategies.
Ensuring the voice of health professionals is heard at WHO
WHPA also submitted two statements under agenda items 15.1 (Strengthening WHO preparedness for and response to health emergencies) and 21.2 (WHO reform: participation of non-State actors in WHO's governing bodies).
FDI emphasised the importance of a healthy and well-protected health workforce in future pandemic preparedness and response. Underinvestment and inaction in this area have resulted in worsening working conditions, professional shortages, and service disruptions, all of which have had a negative impact on people's health. As a result, the Member States and WHO must include health professionals in the decision-making process.
Furthermore, FDI requested that civil society organisations, including health professional organisations, be consulted through a process similar to that used with the Member States to select modalities for engaging Non-State Actors (NSAs) in WHO's governing bodies.
