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NCDs: a challenge to sustainable human development

2013; Elsevier BV; Volume: 381; Issue: 9866 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0140-6736(13)60058-6

1474-547X

Helen Clark,

Public Health and Nutrition

In 2012, the UN conference on sustainable development, Rio+20, referred to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) as “one of the major challenges for sustainable development in the 21st century”, 1 United NationsThe future we want. United Nations, New York2012http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/futurewewant.html Google Scholar emphasising the fundamental link between health and development. 2 United Nations Development ProgrammeHIV, health and development: strategy note, 2012–2013. United Nations Development Programme, New York2012 Google Scholar The costs of NCDs are increasingly a burden in low-income and middle-income countries, affecting people in the prime of their lives and putting more pressure on already stretched health systems and government and family budgets. Just one of the major risk factors, tobacco use, claims nearly 6 million lives annually, and costs 1–2% of the global gross domestic product every year. 3 Eriksen M Mackay J Ross H The tobacco atlas. 4th edn. American Cancer Society; New York: World Lung Foundation, Atlanta2012http://www.tobaccoatlas.org/uploads/Images/PDFs/Tobacco_Atlas_2ndPrint.pdf Google Scholar Non-communicable diseases: 2015 to 2025In 2012, the World Health Assembly endorsed an important new health goal: to reduce avoidable mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by 25% by 2025 (the 25 by 25 goal). Although a valuable step forward, quickly building on the UN General Assembly's 2011 political declaration on the prevention and control of NCDs, the obstacles to achieving this goal are great and largely undiscussed, thanks to their deep political sensitivity. It remains a truth today that, despite global rhetoric and resolutions, chronic NCDs remain the least recognised group of conditions that threaten the future of human health and wellbeing. Full-Text PDF Embedding non-communicable diseases in the post-2015 development agendaThe post-2015 development agenda will build on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), in which health is a core component. This agenda will focus on human development, incorporate the components of the Millennium Declaration, and will be made sustainable by support from the social, economic, and environmental domains of activity, represented graphically as the strands of a triple helix. The approaches to prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been elaborated in the political declaration of the UN high-level meeting on NCDs and governments have adopted a goal of 25% reduction in relative mortality from NCDs by 2025 (the 25 by 25 goal), but a strong movement is needed based on the evidence already available, enhanced by effective partnerships, and with political support to ensure that NCDs are embedded in the post-2015 human development agenda. Full-Text PDF Country actions to meet UN commitments on non-communicable diseases: a stepwise approachStrong leadership from heads of state is needed to meet national commitments to the UN political declaration on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and to achieve the goal of a 25% reduction in premature NCD mortality by 2025 (the 25 by 25 goal). A simple, phased, national response to the political declaration is suggested, with three key steps: planning, implementation, and accountability. Planning entails mobilisation of a multisectoral response to develop and support the national action plan, and to build human, financial, and regulatory capacity for change. Full-Text PDF Inequalities in non-communicable diseases and effective responsesIn most countries, people who have a low socioeconomic status and those who live in poor or marginalised communities have a higher risk of dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) than do more advantaged groups and communities. Smoking rates, blood pressure, and several other NCD risk factors are often higher in groups with low socioeconomic status than in those with high socioeconomic status; the social gradient also depends on the country's stage of economic development, cultural factors, and social and health policies. Full-Text PDF UN Development Programme and non-communicable diseasesIn her Comment (Feb 16, p 510),1 Helen Clark from the UN Development Programme (UNDP) has overlooked the problematic association between development agencies and the tobacco industry, which continually undermines global efforts to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Full-Text PDF UN Development Programme and non-communicable diseases – Author's replyPranay Lal and colleagues question the commitment of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to preventing non-communicable diseases and contributions towards wider efforts around tobacco control.1 Let me reiterate my unequivocal position. I have worked tirelessly throughout my career to achieve a smoke-free society in New Zealand. I retain my strong commitment to anti-tobacco policies and will continue to fight for the health and wellbeing of citizens around the world. Full-Text PDF