Thread by @WHO

"There are many successes to celebrate @WHO_Europe.

Life expectancy in the region is increasing, and the gaps in life expectancy between countries and between men and women are narrowing.

Infant and maternal mortality have both fallen"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros "Premature mortality from noncommunicable diseases is declining and @WHO_Europe is on-track to reach the SDG target. This is very impressive. You are setting an example for the world and should be proud"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros "Most countries now have a policy or strategy to address the determinants of health & inequalities in health.

@WHO_Europe has also been at the forefront of efforts to address the health of refugees & migrants, & to deal with the threat of #AntimicrobialResistance"-@DrTedros

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros "There are still large inequities within & between countries @WHO_Europe.

There is an over 10-year gap between the countries with the shortest & longest life expectancies.

🚬 use remains unacceptably high & alcohol consumption is the highest in the 🌍"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros "Overweight and obesity are rising @WHO_Europe.

Out-of-pocket health spending accounts for more than 30% of total health spending in more than 20 countries, due largely to the cost of medicines"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros "Vaccination rates are high across @WHO_Europe, but with significant variation. Because of low coverage nationally or in pockets within countries, #measles outbreaks are spreading rapidly"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros "As you know, the catch-cry of the @GlobalGoalsUN is to leave no-one behind.

We cannot tolerate a world – or a region – where the rich get healthy and the poor get sick.

We are committed to #HealthForAll, not health for some"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros @GlobalGoalsUN "To achieve a healthier Europe, we must go beyond the health sector to address the root causes of disease in the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we drink and the conditions in which we live"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros @GlobalGoalsUN "No country can afford simply to sit back and treat the effects of tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption and unvaccinated children. We must be relentless in our efforts to promote health and prevent disease"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros @GlobalGoalsUN "Secondary & tertiary health services are an important part of every health system, but the more we can prevent or delay the need for them, the better. Accelerating #PrimaryHealthCare is an excellent step to translate political commitment into concrete policy ideas"-@DrTedros

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros @GlobalGoalsUN "We all know that the future of health is digital. Artificial intelligence & digital technologies are changing the way health care is delivered right across the continuum of care"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros @GlobalGoalsUN "WHO has a unique role to play in advising countries on how to maximize the opportunities of digital technologies, while avoiding the pitfalls with appropriate regulation"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH

@WHO_Europe @DrTedros @GlobalGoalsUN "People may interact with the health system rarely. But every day they make many decisions that affect their health in small ways. We must empower people to become active participants in their own health, rather than simply passive recipients"-@DrTedros at #RC69CPH