he World Heart Federation is advocating for a global commitment on rheumatic heart disease from countries at the World Health Organization. We have launched the #TimeToTackleRHD campaign as we believe that RHD has been ignored by global decision-makers for too long.
We are calling for your support in this process – you can download the Starter Pack below to join the campaign.
What is a Resolution?
A Resolution is a piece of written global policy agreed by all of the countries that make up the World Health Organization (WHO). Once passed, a Resolution will form a global commitment on RHD. Decision-makers, including governments and the WHO, will then have to recognize RHD as a global priority, and approach and fund it appropriately.
Through RHD Action – a movement co-founded by the World Heart Federation in 2014 – the WHF has been supporting the government of New Zealand and a number of other countries to pass a Resolution on RHD. A draft Resolution will be discussed by countries at the next session of the WHO Executive Board from 01-02 June 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland.
Download the Starter Pack
To help you advocate in your own country, we have prepared an RHD Resolution Starter Pack. This Pack includes:
- Background information on RHD and the global commitment
- Timeline of next steps and key dates
- Campaign communications guide
- Template advocacy letter to national decision-makers (with completed example)
You can download the Starter Pack materials from the RHD Action website here
What you can do
There are a number of actions you can take to support a Resolution on RHD:
- Visit the new Resolution page on the RHD Action website
- Download the Resolution Starter Pack
- Write to decision-makers in your setting about the Resolution
- Share information about RHD in your local setting
- Get involved in the campaign via social media (for more information, see the campaign communications guide)
If you have any questions, need more guidance or need contact details for your national decision-makers, please email Joanna Markbreiter, Policy & Advocacy Manager, WHF at resolution@rhdaction.org.
