Summary of 1st UNIATF COVID-19 Meeting

Overview

1. Ed Kelley (WHO) provided a broad overview of WHO’s response to COVID-19

2. Bente Mikkelsen and Jill Farrington (WHO) provided a description of the work being done by the newly established WHO Working Group on COVID-19 and NCDs. Task Force Secretariat represented on this to ensure activities across the UN system are part of the discussion and act as a focal point for alignment of cross-UN activities (PowerPoint presentation attached).

3. Roundtable discussion on current activities across UN system agencies on COVID-19 activities, with a focus on NCDs and mental health. Following the meeting activities were mapped across the 6 WHO NCD COVID-19 work plan areas that are being used by the WHO Working Group on COVID-19 and NCDs (the 6 areas align with the WHO Global NCD Action Plan). (Annex) 

Colleagues considered the meeting helpful and requested a further call next week. The preference is for short frequent webinars, with some suggesting that we use each meeting to focus on a distinct theme.