Qatar
WISH 2018 focuses on tackling pressing global health issues
WISH 2018 focuses on tackling pressing global health issues
*Sheikha Moza attends closing ceremony
Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF), attended the closing ceremony of the fourth World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) Wednesday.WISH – an initiative of QF – in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a global database of Chief Nursing Officers (CNOs). The database will become a digital communications platform for CNOs to share ideas and concerns with each other, wherever they are in the world. At the closing ceremony, the delegates were encouraged to return to their communities and seek innovative ways of solving pressing health issues. The ceremony was also attended by a number of dignitaries, health ministers, and policymakers from around the world. The final day of the summit also featured a speech on tackling depression by a swimming legend, a call to action on the effects of climate change on health, and a message from the director general of WHO.A panel discussion on ‘Anxiety and Depression’ took place, chaired by Paul Farmer, chief executive of Mind, the leading mental health charity in England and Wales. The forum discussed the current global burden of people living with anxiety and depression, risk factors of developing the illnesses, and the treatment gap. According to the WHO, only one in 27 people receive adequate care for anxiety or depression in some low and middle-income countries.“Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health problems globally,” said Farmer. “In 2017, 322 mn people had depression and 264 mn lived with anxiety. The high prevalence and far-reaching impact of these illnesses encourages us to seek solutions. We need to work together to find ways to discuss how society and other sectors such as education and employment can play a part in taking action to prevent anxiety and depression.”Panelists also discussed how, despite differences in culture and healthcare systems, effective interventions can be translated, accepted, and adapted to various settings.Record-breaking Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps delivered a keynote speech on the subject of anxiety and depression, having suffered with mental health issues throughout his illustrious career.