Cairo: Jordan’s active participation in the third Global Congress on Population, Health, and Human Development was marked by the involvement of the Secretary-General of the Higher Population Council, Issa Masarwa, alongside Director of Studies and Policies, Ali Mutlaq. The congress, which took place this month, was organized under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population.
According to Jordan News Agency, the congress aimed to advance sustainable human development through several focal themes, including investment in lifelong learning and digital skills, ensuring equal access to education and employment, and enhancing health and social justice by expanding universal health coverage. The event also prioritized addressing the social determinants of health with a particular focus on protecting vulnerable groups.
The council’s statement emphasized the congress’s dedication to empowering all generations by promoting healthy and productive aging and strengthening social cohesion through culture and sports. Additionally, the gathering tackled global challenges such as migration, environmental change, and population fragility by advocating for innovative, knowledge-based solutions.
The congress concluded with recommendations organized into three primary themes. The first theme centered on integrating a comprehensive development vision into population policy, addressing unmet contraceptive needs, empowering women economically and socially, and digitizing population data.
The second theme stressed the importance of investing in primary healthcare, reducing unnecessary cesarean sections, and decreasing maternal and neonatal mortality rates. It also highlighted the need to sustain screening programs for non-communicable diseases and nutrition campaigns, as well as ensuring sustainable health financing through public-private partnerships.
Lastly, the third theme underscored the promotion of lifelong learning and training, integrating artificial intelligence skills, and empowering youth and women through leadership programs. It also advocated for providing comprehensive social protection, including for informal workers, and strengthening multilateral cooperation to share expertise in artificial intelligence, One Health, and social protection.