Zsuzsanna Jakab

Health 2020 becoming reality.

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Many Member States are now taking up the Health 2020 challenge, reflecting a clear and growing interest in implementing the Health 2020 policy framework in the WHO European Region. At the sixty-third session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, some 300 assembled ministers and stakeholders renewed their commitment to Health 2020. In addition to this, a high-level panel of ministers and delegates shared their plans and experience of implementing the Health 2020 vision within their own countries.

A year has passed since the Health 2020 policy framework was adopted by the Regional Committee and an impressive volume of activity has taken place since then. Countries across the European Region have mobilized for Health 2020 – some are developing a Health-2020-inspired national health policy, while others focus on developing and implementing specific health strategies and plans (such as on noncommunicable diseases) drawing on the core principles of Health 2020 and its evidence-based policy advice. Strengthening cross-government and multidisciplinary actions for health and health systems, from the perspective of Health 2020, is a priority for many countries.

The WHO Regional Office for Europe is also at the ready. “We have made sure Health 2020 is a priority that cuts across everything we do,” said Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe. “We have conducted a thorough review of our operations and resources to be sure of giving Member States the best support we can possibly provide as they move ahead with implementation.”

Unprecedented support

“The support for this policy is unprecedented and takes our concern for health, as a Region, into new domains,” she continued. “Health 2020 doesn’t only concern the health sector; it looks at health policies across the board and reaches out to the whole of government and all sectors. It focuses on health throughout the life-course, addressing inequalities and strengthening capacity in public health. Health 2020 is also being adopted by regions and cities, as well as states, which is a reflection of its tremendous appeal and relevance. Together we really can improve health across Europe, and we can help the poor and vulnerable so that they are not left behind.”

Health 2020 targets the Region’s main health challenges today such as the growing burden of ill health from noncommunicable diseases including obesity, cancer and heart disease; increasing health inequalities and shrinking public service expenditure due to the financial crisis. Its evidence base and the new studies that were commissioned during the development of Health 2020 give excellent insights into the policies and strategies required.

Source: WHO

European men lag behind in life expectancy.

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European men are lagging behind women in terms of life expectancy, a major new report reveals.

Although people are living longer than ever before, men have seen less improvement and are “a generation behind” women, say the authors.

The World Health Organization team who looked at data for nearly nine million people in 53 countries.

It says men have not yet reached the average rise in years of life that women enjoyed back in 1980.

The gap between the sexes is 7.5 years.

As of 2010, women in Europe can expect to live for an average of 80 years, while men reach an average of 72.5 years.

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Although the survival gap between men and women has always been present it does not have to be so wide”

Prof Alan WhiteChairman of the Men’s Health Forum

The researchers say that lifestyle and occupational differences “largely explain this gap”.

The European Health Report also reveals big inequalities in average life expectancy between different countries. And these differences are greatest in men.

The gap between the best and worst countries for male life expectancy is 17 years. For women it is 12.

Countries with the widest male-female difference in survival included Belarus, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Montenegro, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Those with the smallest were Iceland, Israel, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK.

In the UK, the average life expectancy in 2010 was 80 years – 82.5 years for females and 78.5 for males.

The leading health risk factors for Europeans today include tobacco and harmful alcohol use. Cardiovascular disease remains the biggest killer, followed by cancer.

Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO’s regional director for Europe, said: “There are persistent and widespread inequities in health across the region, which in some cases are worsening.

“These are unnecessary and unjust and must be a priority for us to address collectively.”

Prof Alan White, chairman of the Men’s Health Forum and professor of men’s health at Leeds Metropolitan University, said: “Men are not programmed to die young.

“Although the survival gap between men and women has always been present it does not have to be so wide.”

Source:BBC