Published: June 2025
Location: Geneva, Switzerland

The 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) in Geneva was a powerful moment for global health—and an important milestone for Stowelink Foundation as we contributed to conversations shaping the future of non-communicable disease (NCD) prevention and control.

Represented by our CEO, Ogweno Stephen, a leading voice in youth advocacy and lived experience leadership, Stowelink joined thousands of health ministers, civil society leaders, UN agencies, and global health professionals to reflect, debate, and chart the path forward for tackling the world’s most pressing health issues—including obesity and NCDs.

Centering Africa and Lived Experience in the Global NCD Response

As an Africa-based organization committed to youth-driven solutions, Stowelink was proud to bring African perspectives to the global stage. Throughout WHA77, we participated in strategic side events, high-level panels, and informal civil society gatherings, consistently pushing for three key principles:

1. Equity-driven policies
2. People-first language
3. African leadership and local data

Obesity, in particular, was recognized as a public health emergency, not a lifestyle choice. This shift in narrative—from stigma to science, from blame to system-level responsibility—was a critical victory for advocates like us, who have long worked to reshape how obesity is understood and addressed.

Policy, Prevention, and the Push for Universal Coverage

In conversations with WHO delegates, policymakers, and fellow advocates, Stowelink emphasized the urgency of:

• Integrating obesity care and screening into universal health coverage (UHC)
• Supporting policy reforms like front-of-pack labeling, sugar taxes, and marketing restrictions to protect youth
• Promoting early screening and diagnosis for NCDs across Africa, funded through national health insurance schemes

We also explored the role of emerging therapies like GLP-1-based treatments, while calling for responsible use, local affordability, and investment in non-pharmacological prevention strategies.

Youth Leadership: Not the Future, but the Present

One of the strongest themes of WHA77 was the power of youth-led action. At Stowelink, we’ve always believed that young people must be included as decision-makers, not just stakeholders. At the Assembly, our message was clear: Youth are not the future of health—we are the present.

Through our campaigns, research, digital health innovation, and advocacy across sub-Saharan Africa, we are already designing and implementing community solutions. We just need global support to scale them.

WHA77 gave us space to connect with fellow advocates working on the commercial determinants of health, corporate accountability, and climate-health intersections—reminding us that the NCD challenge is multidimensional and demands cross-sectoral responses.

From Geneva to the Grassroots: The Work Ahead

The World Health Assembly reaffirmed that Africa has the ideas, energy, and leadership required to turn the tide on NCDs. What we need is:

• Recognition of local innovation
• Resourcing to scale what works
• Representation in global decisions

As we return home, we bring with us strengthened resolve and new partnerships to advance our advocacy across the region. From public health campaigns to policy engagement, and from research to digital health innovation, Stowelink remains committed to building systems that don’t just treat disease—but protect dignity and promote justice.

Together, we’re creating a healthier future—led by youth, powered by equity, and rooted in community.