Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti Participates in the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Non-Communicable Diseases
On September 25, 2025, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, participated in the Fourth High-Level Meeting of the UN General Assembly on Non-Communicable Diseases, held in New York as part of the High-Level Week of the 80th Session of the General Assembly.
Key Highlights of the Minister's Address
In his speech, Minister Nafti emphasized that non-communicable diseases, which are the leading cause of mortality worldwide and generate significant health, economic, and social burdens, confirm the need for international efforts to address them. He welcomed the importance of the Political Declaration adopted during this meeting, which represents an ambitious roadmap through its essential recommendations aimed at strengthening prevention, ensuring sustainable financing, fully integrating mental health into national strategies, while ensuring health equity and leaving no one behind.
National Efforts to Combat Non-Communicable Diseases
At the national level, Minister Nafti recalled that Tunisia has been working, in cooperation with the World Health Organization, to develop a national multisectoral strategy translated into action plans in the areas of prevention and awareness, updating care protocols, expanding access to essential medicines, and integrating mental health into health services. The fight against these diseases has also been included among the priorities of the five-year development plan (2026-2030), in line with the social dimension that is a central axis of state policies.
International Solidarity and Cooperation
Minister Nafti reaffirmed the imperative need for sincere international solidarity, based on mobilizing resources, strengthening scientific research programs and technology transfer, as well as supporting local production of medicines and vaccines. He renewed Tunisia's commitment to working with all its partners to reduce premature mortality due to these diseases, with the deep conviction that good health and psychological well-being are both the foundation of human dignity and a necessary condition for achieving peace and development.
Tunisia's Leadership Role
It is worth noting that the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration, and Tunisians Abroad chaired the afternoon session of this High-Level Meeting, with Tunisia currently holding the Vice-Presidency of the General Assembly.
