The United Nations (UN) High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR) took place on 20 September at the UN Headquarters in New York under the theme “Making the world safer: creating and maintaining political momentum and solidarity for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response”.
The President of the UN General Assembly convened this meeting to recognise the vast impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems and societies worldwide. Diabetes remains a strong risk factor for adverse COVID-19 outcomes. People with diabetes experience a substantially greater likelihood of hospitalisation and death due to COVID-19 infections. Additionally, strict confinement measures limit their access to healthcare and negatively impact diabetes management. These adverse consequences and challenges highlight the need to prioritise people with diabetes as a high-risk group in future pandemics.
At this meeting, Member States and civil society discussed measures to prevent and prepare for future pandemics using a health-in-all policies approach. The meeting outcome was a political declaration aimed at mobilising national, regional and international political will.
Learn more and access the political declaration here.
