The adoption of the Political Declaration on NCDs is a significant milestone that has raised the level of awareness of CVD and NCDs to unprecedented levels. Yet there are some key areas that remain weak and that will need to be strongly advocated for.  

For the cardiovascular disease community, the declaration puts a clear emphasis on prevention through a health in all policies and life course approach to health. This means the promotion of healthy diets and physical activity through urban and development planning that reaches across sectors and includes transportation, agriculture, finance, trade and education. Commitments have been made to eliminate industrially produced trans fats and reduce the consumption of salt, sugar and saturated fats.

The declaration recognizes the link between cardiovascular disease and reproductive, maternal and newborn child health as a result of maternal under-nutrition, and requests members states to investigate the problem of funding. Finally, it calls for national NCD programs in each country. A review and assessment of the progress made on commitments will be undertaken in 2014. 

Download a more comprehensive and CVD specific analysis of the Summit outcomes >