By Muhammad Amaan
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Commonwealth Secretariat have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for four years to strengthen health systems across the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries.
The organisations said in a statement on Tuesday that the renewed partnership aimed to improve health and wellbeing across member countries.
It would also help them address pressing challenges, including health emergencies, climate change, health inequalities and gaps in universal health coverage.
It said the MoU was signed by Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr Shirley Botchwey, and WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, reaffirming their commitment to coordinated action on global health challenges.
Under the agreement, both organisations would deepen cooperation in four priority areas to support stronger, more resilient and equitable health systems across Commonwealth member countries.
The first priority is advancing primary healthcare and essential health system capacities for universal health coverage, including through innovation and digital health solutions.
The organisations would also address health determinants and the root causes of ill health by promoting health considerations in key policies across different sectors.
According to the statement, another priority is improving health service coverage and financial protection to tackle health and gender inequalities, particularly among vulnerable populations.
It said the renewed partnership would also support countries in responding to climate change by building sustainable and climate-resilient health systems capable of addressing emerging health threats.
The statement quoted Ghebreyesus as saying that the strategic partnership had a dual purpose of strengthening health systems over the long term while helping countries respond to urgent health threats.
According to him, combining WHO’s technical expertise with the Commonwealth’s ability to convene leaders and drive collective action would enable stronger support for member countries.
“The partnership would help countries protect health, advance universal health coverage and build resilience for future generations,” he said.
Botchwey said the renewal demonstrated the Commonwealth’s determination to translate shared ambitions into practical results for people across member countries.
She said the partnership remained central to the Commonwealth Strategic Plan, adding that no institution could address today’s complex health and development challenges alone.
“Building on the first MoU signed in 2022, WHO and the Commonwealth Secretariat will continue high-level advocacy on identified health priorities through multi-stakeholder dialogues,” she said.
The statement said the organisations would promote evidence-based policies and strategies by leveraging WHO’s technical guidance, norms and standards to strengthen health interventions across Commonwealth member countries.
It added that they would promote health among vulnerable countries, including Small States, and vulnerable groups, with emphasis on reducing inequalities and improving health outcomes for all.
