Author Archive: Fara Dina

Hikabasa Halwiindi

IS4NCDs Expert Adviser

Hikabasa Halwiindi

HIGH IRI (HIV, Infectious Disease and Global Health Implementation Research Institute) Faculty, Dean for the School of Public Health at the University of Zambia

Expertise: Implementation Science, Community Health, and Research Methodology

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Michael Herce

IS4NCDs Expert Adviser

Michael E. Herce

Director of Implementation Science, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ); Associate Director of International Operations, UNC Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases

Expertise: Global health equity, HIV, tuberculosis, COVID-19, implementation, public health programs, marginalized populations, prevention, treatment, care, access, epidemics, US, global impact.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Womi-Eteng Oboma Eteng

IS4NCDs Expert Adviser

Womi-Eteng Oboma Eteng

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Expertise: Development of competency-based curriculum

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Bridget Ikalafeng

IS4NCDs Expert Adviser

Bridget Ikalafeng

Research and Epidemiology Manager at Gauteng Health Department, South Africa

Expertise: Implementation Science

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Mina Hosseinipour

IS4NCDs Expert Adviser

Mina Hosseinipour

Infectious diseases physician and Professor of Medicine at UNC-Chapel Hill; Scientific Director, UNC Project-Malawi

Expertise: Implementation Science

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Marleen Temmerman

IS4NCDs Expert Adviser

Marleen Temmerman

Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Director Women’s Health, Faculty of Heath Sciences, The Aga Khan University, East Africa

Expertise: Implementation Science, Empowerment of Women

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Sustainable Financing for NCDs: Final Webinar Ahead of UN High-Level Meeting

Sustainable Financing for NCDs: Final Webinar Ahead of UN High-Level Meeting

Sustainable Financing for NCDs: Final Webinar Ahead of UN High-Level Meeting

12 September 2025

The fifth and last webinar in WHO’s series on “Sustainable Financing for NCDs and Mental Health” will take place on 18 September 2025, at 8:00 AM Washington, DC time (12:00 PM UTC). This session will highlight key insights from the June 2024 international dialogue, which brought together ministries of health and finance, development partners, civil society, and technical experts to discuss innovative financing approaches for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health.

In the lead-up to the Fourth High-level Meeting of the UN General Assembly (#HLM4) on September 25, where Member States are expected to endorse a bold political declaration to accelerate NCD prevention and control, this webinar provides a crucial platform for reflection on priority actions. Key topics include addressing the prices of medicines, establishing supportive digital health systems, and advancing health service delivery research.

The webinar aims to strengthen collaborative efforts by uniting diverse stakeholders in the health and finance sectors to promote sustainable financing models and policies that align fiscal and health priorities. By sharing lessons learned and concrete recommendations, the session will contribute to mounting global momentum ahead of the UN High-level Meeting.

Those interested are encouraged to register in advance using the following link: https://worldbankgroup.zoom.us/webinar/register/8817573414801/WN_Ibac60i8TgKjFUVXVzbJcQ#/registration.

This final webinar marks an important milestone in advancing sustainable financing solutions for NCDs and mental health, setting the stage for transformative commitments at the upcoming UN forum.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Naomi de Bruijne, MSc

Naomi de Bruijne, MSc
EU Project Manager at the Research Office, University Medical Center Utrecht

Naomi de Bruijne, MSc

EU Project Manager at the Research Office, University Medical Center Utrecht

Naomi de Bruijne is EU Project Manager at the Research Office from the UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands. She has specific expertise in MSCA and Erasmus+ CBHE projects. She has a background in Biomedical Sciences and Management and Policy Analysis in the Health and Life Sciences, both acquired at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. In the IS4NCDs consortium, she is the project manager and liaison with the European Commission.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Dr. Judith van de Kamp, PhD

Dr. Judith van de Kamp, PhD
Assistant Professor Global Health at University Medical Center Utrecht

Dr. Judith van de Kamp, PhD

Assistant Professor Global Health at University Medical Center Utrecht

Judith van de Kamp is a medical anthropologist and assistant professor Global Health Education at the Julius Center for Health Sciences, UMC Utrecht. She is a senior lecturer (SKO) and the coordinator of various global health courses at bachelor and master level at UMC Utrecht and University College Utrecht (UCU). She is author of the Dutch book ‘De derde wereld op je cv’ (The third world on your resume) for Dutch adolescents with an interest in working in LMICs.

Judith is passionate about teaching on health equity and justice, and about building strong institutional educational curricula that allow for students to grow an intercultural and open mindset to tackle complex health challenges, both in The Netherlands and abroad.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Clifford Mwamba

Clifford Mwamba
Quality Assurance Manager at the Centre for Academic Development (CAD) at the Copperbelt University

Clifford Mwamba

Quality Assurance Manager at the Centre for Academic Development (CAD) at the Copperbelt University

Mr. Clifford Mwamba is the Quality Assurance Manager at the Centre for Academic Development (CAD) at the Copperbelt University. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Production and Operations Management and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and currently pursuing a PhD. His research interests and experience are in quality assurance and education management.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Victor Daka, Ph.D.

Victor Daka, Ph.D.
Lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the Copperbelt University, School of Medicine

Victor Daka, Ph.D.

Lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the Copperbelt University, School of Medicine

Victor Daka is a lecturer in the Department of Public Health at the Copperbelt University, School of Medicine. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Master of Science in One Health Analytical Epidemiology and a PhD in Public Health and Epidemiology. He has worked for 13 years at the National Health and Research Training Institute (formerly Tropical Diseases Research Centre) where he gained extensive experience in applying and implementing collaborative grants especially in malaria clinical trials and 7 years at the Copperbelt University. At the Copperbelt University he has worked on both communicable and non-communicable studies culminating multiple publications in peer reviewed journals. Victor is passionate about community service, serving as President of the Biomedical Sciences from 2016 to 2021. The IS4NCDs project will leverage Victor’s experience and networks to ensure optimum program outcomes.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

Building Sustainable Financing and Integrated Care for NCDs and Mental Health: Insights for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting

Building Sustainable Financing and Integrated Care for NCDs and Mental Health: Insights for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting

Building Sustainable Financing and Integrated Care for NCDs and Mental Health: Insights for the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting

20 July 2025

Ahead of the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Mental Health, efforts are intensifying to transform global dialogue into actionable financing strategies. The meeting, scheduled for September 25, 2025, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, will bring together Heads of State, civil society, academia, philanthropies, and private sector representatives to commit to accelerated action on NCDs and mental health. The registration deadline for participation is August 8, 2025, underscoring the urgency for stakeholders to engage early in preparations.

Key Themes and Goals

Financing Integration:
Central to the meeting's agenda is identifying and implementing sustainable financing mechanisms for both NCDs and mental health. The focus is on moving beyond discussion to securing concrete financial commitments that support long-term action.

Country-Led Initiatives:
Success stories from nations such as Barbados, Norway, and Spain highlight effective national strategies for financing NCD care. These examples serve as replicable models demonstrating practical pathways for other countries.

Strengthening Health Systems:
There is a concerted push to integrate NCD and mental health services into broader health system designs, particularly through primary care. This approach ensures comprehensive and coordinated care rather than fragmented, siloed interventions.

Addressing Critical Gaps:
The dialogues aim to confront challenges including the commercial determinants of health, the climate crisis, gaps in accountability, and the expansion of care in humanitarian and conflict-affected settings.

Youth and Vulnerable Groups:
Special attention is being paid to low investment in youth mental health and the need to scale up community-based and human rights-focused services to better support vulnerable populations.

Key Events and Initiatives

Side Events and Dialogues:
Multiple side events and official dialogue sessions, such as the "Equity and Integration" event at the World Health Assembly and WHO-led financing discussions, are fostering cross-sectoral learning and accelerating momentum.

Focus on Policy and Data:
New data and insights are being shared to inform policy development and facilitate the scaling-up of successful country initiatives.

Advocacy by Key Stakeholders:
Organisations including the NCD Alliance and United for Global Mental Health are at the forefront of advocacy, pushing for progress on key resolutions and thematic discussions ahead of the meeting.

Looking Ahead to the 2025 UN High-Level Meeting

The 2025 meeting on September 25 represents a landmark opportunity to secure increased political commitment and investment in the prevention and care of NCDs and mental health worldwide. The goal is to translate preparatory dialogues and evidence into a strong political declaration that will guide global health policy through 2030 and beyond. With the registration deadline on August 8, stakeholders are encouraged to engage promptly to help shape this pivotal moment for global health equity and integrated care.

This meeting signals a critical juncture for fostering more inclusive, sustainable, and impactful responses to NCDs and mental health challenges globally, emphasizing equity, integration, and leadership.

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511

The IS4NCDs project has received funding from the European Union's Erasmus+ programme under Grant Agreement no. 101179511