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Call
for International Action to Combat
Epidemic of Non-communicable Diseases
BY
BOBBY RAMAKANT 
The
International Diabetes
Federation (IDF), International Union
Against Cancer (UICC) and World Heart
Federation (WHF) issued a joint statement on 19 May 2009 that calls on the
international community to address urgently the epidemic of non-communicable
diseases (NCDs), responsible for 35 million deaths a year. The statement
demands a substantial increase in funding for NCDs and greater availability of
essential medicines, among other urgent responses, in a way to accelerate
achievement of the health Millennium Development Goals.
Public health experts are concerned about the impact of the global economic
crisis and warn that the emerging epidemic of NCDs is threatening to overwhelm
healthcare systems worldwide unless action is taken. Cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases cause 60% of all deaths
worldwide, with four in every five of these deaths occurring in low- and
middle-income countries. NCDs are an under-appreciated cause of poverty and
now present a serious barrier to economic development. They are estimated to
reduce gross domestic product (GDP) by up to 5% in many low- and middle-income
countries, dealing a double blow to fragile economies struggling in the global
recession.
Professor Pekka Puska, President of the World Heart Federation states:
"We can no longer ignore the burden that cardiovascular disease, together
with the other NCDs including diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory
diseases, is placing on countries that are least equipped to deal with them.
We urgently call on the international community to ensure that the funding
models applied to infectious diseases, such as HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria are
expanded to stop the spiralling death rates from NCDs before the most
vulnerable are pushed further into the poverty trap.”
NCDs impact on the world
IDF, WHF and UICC are united by their concern with the consequences of
physical inactivity, tobacco use and poor diet, three avoidable risk factors
that contribute significantly to the NCDs responsible for 60% of global
mortality.
Diabetes is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attack, stroke
and amputation. The number of people living with diabetes has increased
considerably over the past 30 years. In 1985, an estimated 30 million people
worldwide had diabetes. A little over a decade later, the figure had risen to
over 150 million. Today, according to IDF figures, it exceeds 250 million. A
further 300 million are at high risk of developing diabetes. Unless action is
taken to implement effective prevention and control programmes, IDF predicts
that the total number of people with diabetes will reach 380 million by 2025.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death worldwide. An
estimated 17.2 million people die from CVD each year, and that toll could
increase to almost 20 million by 2015. The incidence of deaths attributable to
CVD continues to rise sharply, accounting for 30% of all deaths globally.
Around 80% of these deaths and 87% of related disabilities occur in low- and
middle-income countries. Cardiovascular disease affects the heart or blood
vessels and includes heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure.
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. More than 11 million
new cases are diagnosed each year, and about 8 million people die from cancer
– over 70% of them in low- and middle-income countries. On current trends,
15.5 million people will be diagnosed with cancer in 2030, and about 12
million people will die from the disease. Yet, we have more knowledge than
ever before on how to bring cancer under control. About one-third (30-40%) of
all cancers can be prevented, a further third can be cured (given early
diagnosis and treatment), and effective palliative care can be provided to
patients.
In its 2009-2013 Action
Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable
Diseases, the World Health Organization
identifies international partnerships as paramount in the global struggle
against NCDS. WHO calls for concerted action on a global scale and identifies
a key role for non-governmental organizations. IDF, WHF and UICC have taken up
this call. Combined, the three organizations represent the interests of 730
member organizations in over 170 countries. They have joined forces to create
a powerful voice for change and urge the international community to take
action in the face of the NCD epidemic.
Professor David Hill, President of the International Union against Cancer
states: “Now, more than ever, we need to join efforts to give cancer and the
other NCDs the priority they deserve. The advantages that stand to be gained
from the strength of strategic international partnerships, such as the one
between our three organizations, will contribute towards a more effective
global response to NCDs.”
Call for Action
The joint statement issued today in
Geneva
was timed to coincide with the meeting of the World Health Assembly. The
organizations highlighted their support for the WHO Action Plan and call for
the international community to:
1. Ensure the availability of essential medicines for people living with NCDs
in low- and middle- income countries
2. Immediately and substantially increase financing for NCDs
3. Integrate NCD prevention into national health systems and the global
development agenda
4. Create a Special Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for NCDs
5. Support a UN General Assembly Special Session on NCDs
WHO has shown that simple, cost-effective solutions exist to take on the
burgeoning epidemic of NCDs. If the international community acts now, hundreds
of millions of lives could be saved and the quality of life improved for
millions more. Such action would bring the international community closer to
achieving the UN Millennium Development Goals. Failure to act will have a
detrimental effect on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. Governments
who invest in prevention now will be spared the overwhelming costs of chronic
care later.
Professor Martin Silink, President of the International Diabetes Federation
explains: “the world has not previously had to cope with an epidemic of NCDs.
Health systems will need to adapt fast to mobilize new and existing resources
to tackle the epidemic through prevention and education. The majority of
people with non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease
and cancer are responsible for most of their own care most of the time. Health
systems will need to support the role of people with NCDs and see them as part
of the solution.”
__________________________
The
author is a World Health Organization (WHO)'s WNTD Awardee 2008, coordinates
the Stop-TB eForum Resource Team of HDN, and writes extensively on health and
development. Email: bobbyramakant@yahoo.com)
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