Taking the fat fight further
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Researcher and public health activist Dr Shakira Choonara (BHSc 2010, BA Hons 2012, MA 2013, PhD 2017) is taking up a new venture as the Obesity Prevention Coordinator for South Africa at an organisation called Global Health Advocacy Incubator, based in Washington, DC. Part of her work there will be to build on successes like South Africa’s recently introduced tax on sugary beverages.
“The prevention and treatment of noncommunicable diseases, like any other diseases, requires a health system that functions well. This is what needs to be prioritised,” she says. The system must also put patients at the centre of its efforts.
There also needs to be a bridge between advocacy and research. “Central to improving the situation is that many noncommunicable diseases are linked to social norms and behaviour, for example eating a healthy diet.”
Dr Choonara attended the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May on behalf of the American Association of Pediatrics. At the event, she facilitated a discussion between young people and Dr Shania Nishtar, co-chair of the World Health Organisation’s High-Level Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases.
She also spoke at the first ever WHO Youth Town Hall. The youth at the meeting, who were from very diverse backgrounds and interests, talked about meeting young patients’ needs.
Dr Choonara and the WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, will be writing an editorial which they discussed at the Assembly.