NCDs: Time to pay attention to the Silent Killer
09.12.2010 13:30
NCDs: Time to pay attention to the Silent Killer
NCD Alliance appeals to world leaders and development agencies to fund non-communicable diseases in least developed countries which are starved of the resources to act
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - namely cancer, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes - cause 60% of all global deaths, but receive just 2.3% of international development assistance for health. 80% of deaths caused by NCDs occur in developing countries. Yet, the international community displays no sense of urgency or outrage about NCDs, the silent killer that is threatening development and economic progress.
These are the messages the NCD Alliance is delivering to the global development community at the European Development Days, a global forum being held in Brussels featuring prominent world leaders and more than 400 international development agencies and donors.