UN Inter-Agency Task Force on NCDs and COVID-19
Meet Florence, WHO’s first virtual health worker, who is part of a new Access Initiative for Quitting Tobacco (AIQT) that aims to help the world's 1.3 billion tobacco users quit. Stopping smoking is more important than ever as evidence reveals that smokers are more likely than non-smokers to have severe outcomes from COVID-19. AIQT is a joint initiative between the UN Interagency Task Force, WHO, together with PATH and the Coalition for Access to NCD Medicines and Products, with support from the private sector.
For more information please read the news below.
NCDs, mental health and COVID-19
People with NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases (e.g. hypertension, heart disease and stroke), chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and cancer, appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the COVID-19.
Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase risk of serious illness.
Healthy behaviours will make all bodily functions work better, including immunity. Eating healthy diets, keeping physically active, quitting smoking, limiting or avoiding alcohol intake, and getting enough sleep are key components of a healthy lifestyle. Governments have a major role to play in ensuring health-enabling environments for their populations.
Fear, worry, and stress are normal responses to perceived or real threats, and at times when we are faced with uncertainty or the unknown. It is normal and understandable that people are experiencing stress in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, people with NCDs and mental health conditions may experience difficulties in accessing the health care, including life-saving treatment.
What the Task Force is doing during COVID-19
Harnessing the collective energies of the UN and multilateral system
- Links to Task Force members COVID-19 websites are available below.
- Relevant information on COVID-19 and NCDs from across WHO is available here.
- A summary of activities being undertaken by Task Force members is available here.
The Task Force comes together once a week to allow its members to prioritize action to support Member States respond to NCDs and the challenges of mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic. The summary of these meetings are available below.
Multi-partner trust fund to catalyze country action for NCD and mental health
To respond to ECOSOC and World Health Assembly resolutions and the recommendation of the WHO Independent High-level Commission on NCDs, WHO is establishing a multi-partner trust fund. The Fund will support governments to better coordinate and integrate NCDs and mental health responses into their health and development strategies, to develop and implement optimized fiscal, legislative and regulatory policies, and to ensure access to life saving healthcare for NCDs and mental health conditions. In the first instance, the Trust Fund will support countries respond to NCDs as part of their COVID-19 response and recovery.
The Steering Group will be chaired by the WHO Deputy Director General, with membership across Task Force members and development partners. The Secretariat of the Task Force will serve as the Secretariat of the Trust Fund. The Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office will be the management agent.
Joint programme and theme groups
The Task Force’s joint programmes and thematic working groups (TWG) are ensuring that their work is providing relevant, timely and effective support to Member States during COVID-19. Every effort is being made to maintain current work through remote working.
NCD2030: NCD and mental health investment cases continue to be undertaken remotely. Where possible, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be reflected in the investment cases.
SAFER: The joint programme is compiling a repository of peer reviewed articles around the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on alcohol consumption.
Tobacco control: The workstream ‘Tobacco prevention among youth’ recognizes children and adolescent increased risk of second-hand smoke during the lockdown and is developing advocacy material around smoke free homes.
Nutrition: Members of the TWG are compiling a list of UN resources highlighting the linkages between COVID-19 and nutrition and developing relevant advocacy material on maintaining a healthy diet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Mental Health: The TWG is conducting a survey to map agencies’ activities around mental health and COVID-19, in order to streamline information sharing and dissemination.
NCDs and the environment: The main focus of the TWG is around the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on air pollution, waste management (especially hospital waste), and climate change.
Selected products from Task Force members
UNICEF, WHO and IFRC have issued the following guidance, Community-based health care, including outreach and campaigns, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance includes an overview and specific considerations for mental health and NCDs.
FAO has published a policy brief on How to maintain a healthy diet during COVID-19 pandemic, Arabic; Chinese; Russian; French; Spanish.
WFP, FAO and UNICEF have released a policy brief on Mitigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food and nutrition of school children.
UNDP has published a brief on Gender-base violence and COVID 19.
The United Nations has published a policy brief on COVID-19 and the need for action on mental health.
IAEA: August 2020 the Nutritional & Health-Related Environmental Studies Newsletter. It has a special focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meeting reports
Summary of 18th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 17th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 16th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 15th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 14th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 13th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 12th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 11th UNAITF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 10th UNAITF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 9th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 8th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 7th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 6th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 5th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 4th UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 3rd UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 2nd UNIATF COVID-19 meeting
Summary of 1st UNIATF COVID-19 Meeting
COVID-19 related websites of UNIATF members (updated 26 June 2020)
| Agency | Main topics |
|---|---|
| FAO | Safeguarding food supply chain, food security and livelihoods Food price and food policy monitoring |
| IAEA | Series of COVID-19 related webinars for nuclear medicine professionals |
| IARC | Research on intersection between COVID-19 and cancer |
| IASC | Operational considerations for multisectoral mental health and psychosocial support programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic |
| IDLO | A rule of law-based response to COVID-19 pandemic |
| ILO | Impact on businesses and jobs. Policy briefs with recommendations (Stimulating the economy and employment; Supporting enterprises and incomes; Protecting workers in the workplace, etc.) Country policy responses tracking |
| ITU | mHealth solutions to managing the outbreak Series of webinars |
| OECD | Data on health systems and policy responses Economic and social impact of shutdowns Impact of COVID-19 on mental health and well-being |
| OHCHR | Human rights’ dimensions of COVID-19 (access to health care for all populations, etc.) |
| UNAIDS | Maintaining HIV treatment capacities Informing people with HIV about COVID-19 via brochures, infographics Human rights-focused, community-based approach to dealing with the crisis |
| UNDP | Supporting health systems, procurement of supplies, crisis management Whole-of-society response to crisis and recovery Country activity listing |
| UNEP | Linking recovery efforts with the clean energy transition and progress towards sustainable consumption and production, green jobs Medical waste management Addressing illegal trade in wildlife |
| UNESCO | Distant learning solutions (national learning platforms, digital learning resources) Webinars for minister of education officials |
| UNFPA | Access to sexual and reproductive health services and interventions Addressing gender-based violence. Strengthening remote Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) capacities in response to gender-based violence Social media outreach regarding mental health issues, along with reproductive health concerns |
| UNHCR | Protecting refugees from COVID-19 and its consequences. Continued access to health care and education Integrating Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in activities |
| UNICEF | Tips and guidance for families (mental health, working parents, learning at home, children with disabilities, teenagers, etc.) Pregnancy and breastfeeding in the context of COVID-19 Procurement of supplies |
| UNICEF | Maternal and child nutrition: unicef programming priorities to respond to the socio-economic impacts of the covid-19 pandemic |
| UNODC | Addressing the crime that exploits the pandemic (cybercrime, money-laundering, gender-based violence, human trafficking, etc.) COVID-19 prevention and control measures in prisons Support to people who use drugs |
| UNSCN | Food environments during the COVID-19 crisis Links to COVID-19 responses of UN agencies |
| WFP | Impact on nutrition, on the poor and on food security. Impact on school meal Safe re-opening of schools and nutrition guidance for schools |
| WHO | Outbreak situation updates Technical and country guidance Advice for public |
| WTO | Monitors trade related measures under COVID-19 |
| World Bank | Funding to support immediate health measures and subsequent recovery Supporting health systems, procurement of medicines and medical supplies. Ensuring food security Tracking digital responses worldwide |
Related Health Topics
All →Contact
Dr Nick Banatvala
Head of Secretariat
UN Interagency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of NCDs
E-mail: unncdtaskforce@who.int