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| WHO forms network on noncommunicable diseases
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Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) -
The World Health Organization (WHO) Wednesday annou
nced the launch of a network of leading organizations and experts from around th
e
world, to support efforts to integrate indicators on noncommunicable diseases a
n
d injuries into the core Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) monitoring and eval
u
ation system.
Tagged the Global Noncommunicable Disease Network (NCDnet), it will scale up act
ion to combat noncommunicable
diseases, strengthen global partnerships and help governments plan and implement
measures to reduce the burden of these
diseases, a WHO statement obtained by PANA said here.
NCDnet will also unite currently fragmented efforts by bringing the cancer, card
iovascular, diabetes and respiratory communities
together with tobacco control, healthy diets, and physical activity advocates, i
t said.
The announcement was timed to coincide with the meeting, in Geneva, Switzerland,
this week, of the UN Economic and Social Council
(ECOSOC), which is focusing on global public health commitments.
According to the WHO, noncommunicable diseases such as heart attacks, strokes, c
ancers, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and common
injuries account for the vast majority of all global deaths.
But because they are not yet included as priorities in the global development ag
enda, donors and international organizations have yet to pledge
support to help developing countries address these leading health problems.
Noncommunicable diseases cause 38 million deaths annually and together with inju
ries are responsible for 70% of all global deaths, with 80% of
these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries.
WHO estimates that globally, deaths from noncommunicable diseases are forecast t
o increase by 17% over the next 10 years, with the greatest increase
projected in the African Region (27%) followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Regi
on (25%).
"Integrating the prevention of noncommunicable diseases and injuries into the na
tional and global development agendas is not only achievable but also
a priority for developing countries," the statement quoted Dr. Ala Alwan, Assist
ant Director-General Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health,
WHO, as saying.
"The goals of the new network are to increase focus on the prevention and contro
l of noncommunicable diseases, to increase resource availability and to catalyse
effective multi-stakeholder action at global and country levels," Dr. Alwan said
.
Strengthened by the support of the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and lea
ding NGOs such as the World Heart Federation, the International Diabetes
Federation and the International Union against Cancer, NCDnet will advocate for
action to raise the priority accorded to noncommunicable diseases in development
work at global and national levels.
“Noncommunicable diseases are a serious threat to global well-being,” said Richa
rd Samans, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum. “They present a
growing economic and social challenge for many developed and developing countrie
s. At the World Economic Forum we are committed to working with WHO,
and in collaboration with other international partners, to build an effective Gl
obal Noncommunicable Disease Network.”
"The challenges policy makers face include how to address the links between nonc
ommunicable diseases and poverty, how to minimize the health and economic losses
among
the economically active population, and how to prepare for the pressures on heal
th systems resulting from the growing numbers of people with noncommunicable dis
e
ases," commented
Joy Phumaphi Vice President of the Human Development Network of the World Bank.
"I want to highlight the glaring omission of noncommunicable diseases in the Mil
lennium Development Goals. I believe that this is a serious omission and this an
o
maly should be
corrected. It is in this light that I propose we seriously consider an MDG-plus
which would set goals for noncommunicable diseases, as we have done for other pu
b
lic health challenges,"
commented Guyana's Minister of Health, Dr Leslie Ramsammy.
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| Geneva - 08/07/2009 |
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