IFA Delivers Constituency Statements at the 79th World Health Assembly

At the 79th World Health Assembly (WHA79), the International Federation on Ageing (IFA), together with supporting non-State actors (NSAs), delivered constituency statements across key agenda items, including Agenda Item 12.1 (Follow-up to the Political Declaration on the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases) and Agenda Item 15.5 (Economics of Health for All), to advocate for policies that better reflect the realities of global population ageing. 

Under Agenda Item 12.1, the statement highlights the importance of embedding healthy ageing within global efforts to prevent and control noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), calling for stronger alignment between NCD strategies and systems for long-term care, dementia, disability, gender, and social protection across the life course, alongside age-inclusive targets, age-disaggregated data, and strengthened prevention, and continuum of care.  

Under Agenda Item 15.5, the statement commended the draft strategy on the Economics of Health for All and calls for healthy ageing and longevity-ready societies to be central to its implementation. It underscores that investment in healthy ageing is a strategic economic and social priority, strengthening productivity, reducing long-term care costs, and supporting inclusive and sustainable growth, while emphasising prevention, health promotion, and integrated care. 

Together, these statements reflect a shared commitment to advancing healthy ageing, equity, and sustainable health systems within global health policy and implementation. IFA thanks all supporting non-State Actors that collaborated on these statements.  

Read the statements below.