Thursday 25 / September / 2025
New York: The Sultanate of Oman, in cooperation with a number of international partners, on Thursday hosted a high-level side event titled "One Vision.. One Future: Mobilising Global Action Against Non-Communicable Diseases for Future Generations." The event was held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.
The event commenced with an opening speech by HH Sayyida Dr. Mona Fahad Al Said, Assistant Vice-Chancellor for International Cooperation at Sultan Qaboos University and Chairperson of the National Committee for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). She stated, "Like many countries around the world, the Sultanate of Oman bears the burden of NCDs. These silent diseases, despite their devastating severity, claim lives, limit individual potential, and place strain on the fundamental fabric of our societies."
She indicated that Oman is fully aware of this challenge and is working with determination and resolve to confront it. “These efforts are based on the firm conviction that prevention – rooted in the environments we shape, the food we consume, the air we breathe, and choices influenced by systems beyond the health sector – is both a moral responsibility and an economic necessity, yielding significant benefits for our people and the future of our coming generations,” she said.
She added, "We recognise that prevention must be complemented by treatment and care, which remain the permanent fortress for individuals, families, and communities already affected. Oman has worked to strengthen its health system to ensure equity and universal access to health services. Across the country, over 200 primary healthcare facilities provide services, equipped with essential medicines, diagnostic tools, and qualified healthcare providers."
She noted that specialised services meet the needs of people living with chronic conditions, early detection programs help identify diseases in their initial stages, while community-based initiatives deliver health services directly to patients, enabling them to live longer, healthier, and more prosperous lives.
She affirmed that Oman's efforts in the field of chronic respiratory diseases have been recognised through its designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Chronic Respiratory Diseases. This distinction, she affirmed, reflects its commitment to capacity development, enhancing services, and contributing to regional and global efforts to reduce the burden of these diseases, in cooperation with the international community.
She pointed out that Oman has received official certification for the elimination of industrially produced trans fats, an achievement that protects future generations from health risks. The country has also advanced in tobacco control by implementing plain packaging for tobacco products and prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes, thereby reaffirming its commitment to health protection, she added.
She said, "We are now on the verge of completing the largest national household survey on NCDs, with participation from over 10,000 individuals, forming a robust evidence database that seamlessly links with previous surveys and studies, ensuring continuity, comparability, and depth of analysis."
She added, "National surveillance for the prevention and control of NCDs is at the heart of these efforts. It serves as a foundation linking data derived from health facilities with population-level health responses, ensuring outcomes and impact are measured in ways that benefit all sectors, not just health. It forms a bridge connecting science with policy, and health with the comprehensive development agenda."
Her Highness explained that Oman is taking concrete steps to update its multisectoral national NCD policy and will soon hold a consultative workshop bringing all relevant stakeholders together to advance this policy, alongside preparing a national NCD prevention strategy that reflects the reality of our people's lives and the interconnected risks we face.
In her concluding remarks, she emphasised that the challenge in Oman and around the world is not merely about alleviating the burden of disease, but is also linked to protecting dignity, preserving opportunities, and securing the future of coming generations. It is equally a commitment to aligning efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals, international and regional commitments, and within Oman, with the targets of Oman Vision 2040, ensuring that health remains a cornerstone of national development and a mirror of our progress.
The side event's agenda included a series of presentations and interactive discussions featuring senior experts from Oman, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and the International Diabetes Federation. The sessions were moderated by Dr. Nicholas Banatvala, Head of the UN Inter-Agency Task Force on NCDs, and Dr. Shatha Saud Al Raisi, Director of the NCD Department at the Ministry of Health.
Dr. Ahmed Salim Al Mandhari, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health for Health Planning and Regulation, gave a presentation on "Primary Care: The Foundation of the Health Transformation Journey." Dr. Asmus Hammerich, Director of NCDs and Mental Health at the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, addressed "'Best Buy' Strategies for NCD Control."
Meanwhile, Volkan Cetinkaya, Senior Health Economist at the World Bank, presented on "Health Taxes: Improving Health and Generating Tax Revenue." Sanne Frost Helt, Senior Director of Policy, Programs, and Partnerships at the International Diabetes Foundation, showcased "Multilateral Partnerships to Enhance the NCD Response," drawing on global studies and experiences.
The event hosted by Oman also featured a high-level panel discussion on "Leadership and Accountability: From Commitments to Effective Impact – Moving Forward to Strengthen Universal Health Coverage for NCDs and Political Will," with participation from sponsoring countries alongside prominent international figures. These included Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean; Teodoro Herbosa, Secretary of Health of the Republic of the Philippines; Dr. Kweku Mintah Akandoh, Ghanaian Minister of Health; MP Christopher Kalila, Member of the Zambian Parliament and President of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; and Alison Cox, Director of Policy and Advocacy at the NCD Alliance.
The event focused on enhancing global political commitments to combat NCDs, showcasing successful international policies and experiences in areas of policy, financing, and prevention, alongside launching multisectoral partnerships encompassing health, education, finance, agriculture, and technology. There were also calls to support proven interventions such as taxes on tobacco, sugar, and alcohol, and to expand the scope of primary healthcare.
This event aimed to reinvigorate global activity and translate political promises into tangible reality, focusing on impactful success stories and leveraging them. It resulted in a set of practical recommendations and policies, and a 12 to 24-month follow-up plan designed to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the target of reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030.
The Sultanate of Oman today stands out as an active and influential voice in global efforts to combat NCDs. The government has given this file top priority, making it a fundamental pillar of its national health agenda with firm political will.
Oman has established multi-sectoral governance systems and integrated NCD issues into its comprehensive development strategies, alongside investing in primary healthcare and community-based initiatives. Its presence on regional and international platforms reflects its commitment to health equity, innovation, and strengthening resilience in the field of public health.
