Lusaka, Zambia — August 2025
Kenyan health advocate Ogweno Stephen joined global and regional health leaders at the 75th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa (RC75) to push for stronger, coordinated action on obesity across the continent. Representing the World Obesity Federation alongside Brenda Chitindi, Ogweno delivered a compelling call for African governments to integrate obesity prevention, treatment, and management into primary health care systems.

The meeting, held from 25–27 August 2025 in Lusaka, brought together ministers of health, policymakers, and development partners to discuss key health priorities, including noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), the double burden of malnutrition, and the region’s progress toward universal health coverage.

Integrating Obesity into Primary Health Care

During discussions under Agenda Item 16.9, Ogweno Stephen emphasized that Africa can no longer afford to overlook obesity in its NCD strategy.

“Obesity is a chronic disease that requires a multisectoral response,” he said, underscoring the “double dividend” of addressing obesity — improved health outcomes and long-term economic benefits.

Ogweno, a recognized Kenyan health advocate and lived-experience leader, also urged countries to involve people living with obesity in designing programmes that are inclusive, stigma-free, and people-centered. He noted that in several African countries, adult obesity rates have surpassed 30%, a statistic that signals an urgent need for health system reform.

Addressing the Double Burden of Malnutrition

Speaking on Agenda Item A16, Brenda Chitindi highlighted the continent’s struggle with the double burden of malnutrition — where undernutrition and obesity coexist. She warned that childhood overweight is rising rapidly across Africa, especially among 5–19-year-olds, and that 46 Member States must accelerate implementation of WHO-recommended measures, such as front-of-pack nutrition labelling and taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages.

Both Stephen and Chitindi called for countries to join the WHO Acceleration Plan to Stop Obesity, framing obesity as a development issue that threatens Africa’s economic and health progress.

Building Momentum for Global Action

Ogweno Stephen’s participation in the WHO Africa meeting comes shortly after his involvement at the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs and Mental Health in New York, where he moderated a global obesity panel alongside health ministers from Egypt, Greece, and the Philippines. His leadership reflects his growing influence as one of Africa’s leading voices on NCD advocacy and health systems strengthening.

Through his work with the Stowelink Foundation, Ogweno continues to champion youth-driven innovations, digital health education, and community engagement to combat obesity and other NCDs in Kenya and beyond. His advocacy bridges local experience and global policy, ensuring that African perspectives remain central to global health decision-making.

As preparations begin for the 2026 WHO Africa Regional Committee in Ethiopia, advocates like Ogweno Stephen remain steadfast in ensuring that obesity, prevention, and equitable health care stay at the top of Africa’s health agenda.