Journal of IiMER May 2025 Young EMERG Joins WHO Youth 4 Health In 2023, the European ME Alliance (EMEA) achieved Non-State Actor accreditation from WHO’s Regional Office for Europe, enabling active participation in WHO meetings and ensuring ME representation in WHO initiatives. In 2024, as part of the EMERG/EMECC/EMEA/YE strategy, we facilitated the connection of Young EMERG to the WHO Youth4Health network, strengthening ties between ME advocacy and European health initiatives. Johanna Rohrhofer from the Medical University of Vienna has been the representative for YE and passes that role to another in YE this year. At last year’s WHO Regional Committee for Europe, key groups including the European ME Research Group (EMERG), and Young EMERG (supported by WHO’s Youth4Health) convened in Copenhagen to highlight ME as a major health challenge and promote youth engagement in European health policy. Their shared priorities include: Official recognition of ME/CFS as a somatic illness by WHO Implementation of WHO ICD codes for ME/CFS in national health systems Ensuring timely physical, financial, medical, and social support for sufferers Incorporating the latest scientific evidence into medical curricula Developing disease registries using current diagnostic criteria Securing funding for biomedical research Rapidly advancing Centres of Excellence for MES During the NSA event, Young EMERG represented youth perspectives in a private meeting with Dr Hans Kluge, WHO Regional Director for Europe. As our first Youth4Health focal point, Young EMERG connects early career researchers, fostering long-term commitment to ME research, care, and policy improvements. Through Youth4Health, WHO offers young people a platform to influence health policy, amplifying ME issues within WHO discussions and promoting understanding among youth and healthcare stakeholders. The partnership equips young researchers with resources to build collaborative, interdisciplinary networks and advocate for funding during critical career stages. Invest in ME Research Page 5 of 43
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