Local leaders unite to translate global goals into ground realities | 8th APCAT Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia
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Summit of sub-national government leaders from over 121 cities of 12 countries in Asia and the Pacific region unitedly passed an important declaration in Jakarta, Indonesia to save lives from preventable causes of diseases and untimely deaths, like tobacco use, TB, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
With less than 5 years left to deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals (adopted by all governments in 2015), it is alarming to note that progress on them is way off the mark. SDG goals and targets (among other political declarations adopted by our governments at the UN) include reducing NCDs by one-third by 2030, implementing the legally-binding global tobacco treaty (formally called as WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control) and other lifesaving public health policies to save lives from tobacco and nicotine use, ending TB, and implementing One Health approach to address global health and food security threats like AMR, among others.
Several sub-national government leaders (Mayors, Members of Parliament, Governors and Vice Governors, among others) and other stakeholders took part in the 8th APCAT Summit. Local leaders came from Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Singapore and Vietnam. The 8th APCAT Summit was organised by the Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT) and Vital Strategies in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Government of Indonesia; Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta; Association of Health Offices in Indonesia (ADINKES), the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), Bloomberg Philanthropies, and APCAT Media.
Local actions to deliver on Global Goals
"Preventable deaths from tobacco use, NCDs, TB, and AMR continue to undermine development, with tobacco alone causing immense human suffering and costing the global economy US$ 2 trillion annually. Decisive local leadership is essential to convert commitments into public health outcomes and results, speed up progress, and prevent avoidable illness and premature deaths through coordinated actions," said Dr Tara Singh Bam, Board Director of Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Health and Development (APCAT) and Asia Pacific Director (Tobacco Control), Vital Strategies. Dr Bam till recently led The Union as its Asia Pacific Director.
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