The Andorra Statement: health promotion and disease prevention throughout the life-course: second high-level meeting of the WHO small countries initiative, Soldeu, Andorra, 2–3 July 2015

• Main Author: World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Published: World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe 2015
• Subjects: Organization and Administration; Health Policy; Health Promotion; Primary Prevention; Public Health; International Cooperation; Europe; Iceland
• Online Access: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/362383

1 p. Delegates from Andorra, Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro and San Marino gathered in Andorra on 2–3 July 2015 for the second high-level ministerial meeting of the eight small countries to confirm their commitment to implementing the Health 2020 vision in countries with populations of less than 1 million people. The meeting, organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe and hosted by the Government of Andorra, was attended by the WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab and ministerial delegations of the eight countries. The delegates discussed what has already been done and what is still to be done to align their policies to the WHO framework of Health 2020 and to ensure that the life-course approach is a priority in decision- and policy-making. Speakers from the eight countries and WHO technical experts discussed progress and best practices in investing in health through a life-course approach, strengthening people-centred health systems and creating resilient communities and supportive environments. Health inequalities in Europe were discussed, with a review of promising practices to reduce the “health divide” in the eight countries. The meeting resulted in the Andorra Statement on the importance of a life-course approach to health promotion: “It is never too early to invest in health promotion and disease prevention, and it is never too late in people’s lives to improve health and well-being and address the challenges of our ageing population”.