UN summit call for all-out attack on Non-Communicable Diseases - A UN High-Level Summit on Monday called for an all-out attack on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as cancer and diabetes, in order to curb preventable diseases that causes 63 per cent of all deaths. The two-day summit, convened by the UN General Assembly, is being attended by more than 30 Heads of State and Government and more tha 100 other senior ministers, observers, experts and the media.

PANA reported that the meeting was convened to discuss a draft declaration, which would call for a multi-pronged campaign by governments, industry and civil society to set up by 2013 the plans needed to curb the risk factors behind the four groups of NCDs, namely cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes.

Steps proposed range from price and tax measures to reduce tobacco consumption to curbing the extensive marketing to children, particularly on television, of foods and beverages that are high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, sugars, or salt.

Other measures would cut the harmful consumption of alcohol, promote overall healthy diets and increase physical activity.

The UN said that the overall toll of NCDs is estimated at 36 million out of a total of 57 million annually.

Speaking at the summit, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said: 'This will be a massive effort, but I am convinced we can succeed', noting that, 'over a quarter of all people who die from NCDs succumb in the prime of their lives, the vast majority of them in developing countries'.

'Our collaboration is more than a public health necessity and non-communicable diseases are a threat to development. NCDs hit the poor and vulnerable particularly hard, and drive them deeper into poverty,” Ban said.

He also said that, 'millions of families pushed into poverty each year when a member becomes too weak to work or when the costs of medicines and treatments overwhelm the family budget'.

According to him: 'The prognosis is grim'.

He also called on governments, individuals, civic groups and businesses to all play their part, saying that, 'there is a well-documented and shameful history of certain players in industry who ignored the science, sometimes even their own research, and put public health at risk to protect their own profits'.

Ban stated: 'There are many, many more industry giants which acted responsibly. That is all the more reason we must hold everyone accountable, so that the disgraceful actions of a few do not sully the reputation of the many which are doing such important work to foster our progress'.

He alsocalled on corporations that profit from selling processed foods to children, including manufacturers, media, marketing and advertising companies, to act with the utmost integrity.

On his part, UN General Assembly President Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser stressed the need for international cooperation to tackle the problem.

'The global community must work together to monitor, reduce exposure to risks, and strengthen health care for people with non-communicable diseases,” Al-Nasser said.

He noted that, 'the impact of this loss, this tragedy, goes beyond individuals, beyond families. NCDs are altering demographics. They are stunting development. And they are impacting economic growth'.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO): 'Deaths from NCDs will increase by 17 per cent in the next decade. In Africa, that number will jump by 24 per cent'.

The draft summit declaration called for greater measures at global, regional and national levels to prevent and control NCDs, stressing that about 9 million of the deaths occur before the age of 60, with nearly 80 per cent of those in developing countries, and cites.

It also noted that, 'the vicious cycle whereby non-communicable diseases and their risk factors worsen poverty, while poverty contributes to rising rates of non-communicable diseases'.

It stated that, 'the rising prevalence, morbidity and mortality” of NCDs can be largely prevented and controlled through collective and multisectoral action by all Member States and other relevant stakeholders.

The draft also highlighted the need for universal national health coverage and strengthened international cooperation to provide technical assistance and capacity-building to developing
countries.

It called on WHO, as the lead UN specialized agency for health and the vanguard of the global effort, to set up a comprehensive global monitoring framework and prepare recommendations for voluntary global targets before the end of 2012.

Pana 20/09/2011