Renewed agreement focuses on universal health coverage, health equity and climate-resilient health systems across 56 member states
By Bunmi Yekini
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Commonwealth Secretariat have renewed a four-year agreement to strengthen cooperation on health systems, universal health coverage and responses to climate change across the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed by Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, builds on an earlier agreement signed in 2022.
The renewed partnership will focus on strengthening primary healthcare and essential health system capacity, including the use of digital health and other innovations.
The two organisations will also work to address social and other factors that contribute to poor health, improve access to health services and financial protection, and reduce health and gender inequalities.
Climate change is another priority, with the partnership seeking to help countries develop health systems that can withstand climate-related pressures while remaining sustainable.
Tedros said the agreement would combine WHO’s technical expertise with the Commonwealth’s ability to bring governments and other stakeholders together.
“This strategic partnership between WHO and the Commonwealth Secretariat has a dual purpose: to strengthen health systems for the long term while helping countries respond to urgent health threats,” Tedros said.
The organisations said their cooperation would be particularly important as countries face overlapping health emergencies, climate-related impacts and persistent inequalities.
Under the renewed agreement, WHO and the Commonwealth Secretariat will support high-level advocacy and multi-stakeholder dialogue on the agreed priorities, promote evidence-based health policies and expand attention to vulnerable countries and populations.
The partnership will include a focus on small states and other vulnerable groups, with reducing inequalities identified as a key objective.
Botchwey said the renewed agreement was intended to translate the organisations’ shared priorities into practical action.
“No institution can meet today’s complex health and development challenges alone,” she said.
The Commonwealth has a combined population of about 2.7 billion people, with more than 60% aged 30 or under, according to the organisation.