WHF announces WHA79 side events in Geneva on cardiovascular health

The World Heart Federation announced its programme of side events for the 79th World Health Assembly, taking place in Geneva on 18 and 19 May 2026 at the École Hôtelière de Genève.

The Federation, recognised by the World Health Organization as its leading non-governmental partner on cardiovascular disease, will host sessions on integrating obesity into cardiovascular health strategies, scaling national cardiovascular plans and closing the treatment access gap in low and middle-income countries.

Cardiovascular disease remains the world's leading cause of death, claiming over 20 million lives every year. WHF Chief Executive Mark Hutcheson said the side events would push delegations to act on national cardiovascular health plans alongside the broader non-communicable disease agenda. The programme runs in parallel with the WHF preparations for the World Congress of Cardiology in Rio de Janeiro in October, hosted with the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.