World Leaders Join New Drive to Beat Non-Communicable Diseases

A group set to propose bold and innovative solutions to accelerate prevention and control of the leading killers on the planet – non-communicable diseases (NCDs) has been formed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The new high-level commission comprises of heads of state and ministers, leaders in health and development and entrepreneurs.

The non-communicable diseases include heart and lung disease, cancers, and diabetes.

Seven in 10 deaths globally every year are from NCDs, the main contributors to which are tobacco use, harmful use of alcohol, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. More than 15 million people between the ages of 30 and 70 years die from NCDs annually.

Low- and lower-middle income countries are increasingly affected, with half of the premature deaths from NCDs occurring in those countries. Many lives can be saved from NCDs through early diagnosis and improved access to quality and affordable treatment, as well as a whole-of-government approach to reducing the main risk factors.

President Tabaré Vázquez of Uruguay noted that NCDs are the world’s leading avoidable killers but the world is not doing enough to prevent and control them.

“We have to ask ourselves if we want to condemn future generations from dying too young, and living lives of ill health and lost opportunity. The answer clearly is ‘no.’ But there is so much we can do to safeguard and care for people, from protecting everyone from tobacco, harmful use of alcohol, and unhealthy foods and sugary drinks, to giving people the health services they need to stop NCDs in their tracks,” said Dr.Vazquez.

Mr. Michael R. Bloomberg, WHO Global Ambassador for Non-Communicable Diseases and Commission member, on the other hand, said that for the first time in history, more people are dying of non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, than infectious diseases.

“This loss of human life spares no one — rich or poor, young or old – and it imposes heavy economic costs on nations. The more public support we can build for government policies that are proven to save lives – as this Commission will work to do – the more progress we’ll be able to make around the world,” added Mr. Bloomberg.

The World Health Assembly has endorsed the set of WHO “best buys” and other cost-effective interventions proven to prevent or delay most premature NCD deaths. Such measures, which can be readily scaled up in countries, target prevention and treatment of, and raising awareness about, NCDs.