The 66th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) took place from 14-17 October 2019, in Tehran, Iran, with the participation of the highest level of EMR’s health officials, along with civil society representatives.

In an effort to increase civil society presence at the WHO EMR meeting, Dr Mohammad Reza Masjedi, Director General of the Iran NCD Alliance delivered a statement in reference to Agenda Item 3(e) which presented a technical paper on ‘Accelerating regional implementation of the Political Declaration of the Third High-level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases, 2018’ (EM/RC66/7). This statement was presented on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance (and its members), NCD Alliance, and Iran NCD Alliance.

Dr. Masjedi called on EMR Members States to prioritise the discussion of NCDs and to reduce their burden by promoting mental health, reducing air pollution, promoting physical activity, including NCD prevention and control in humanitarian emergency preparedness and response, and prioritising marketing regulations and taxation of unhealthy commodities (tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks).

Dr Mohammad Reza Masjedi presented the statement on behalf of the Eastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance (and its members), NCD Alliance, and Iran NCD Alliance.

The statement also stressed the impact of political instability in the region and of NCD burden among refugees and those in emergency contexts; called to elevate the voices of people living with NCDs, youth, women, indigenous peoples and people in emergency contexts; urged to meaningfully involve civil society organisations as being supportive of country governments and Ministries of Health in advancing towards meeting national NCD targets; and integrating NCD services in national UHC and primary health care packages in both stable and emergency contexts.

Participants in the RCM 66 called the event a fruitful effort to address the region's most challenging health problems, and praised the appropriate hosting of the Islamic Republic of Iran.