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WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY ADOPTS RESOLUTION TO TACKLE THE RISING BURDEN OF NON-COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

The 61st session of the World Health Assembly which took place on the 19–24 May  in Geneva, Switzerland, endorsed a six-year action plan to tackle non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease. NCDs are now the leading threat to human health, causing 60% of all deaths globally in 2005 (estimated at 35 million deaths). As reported in the last issue of Heart Beat the World Heart Federation was one of the key organisations consulted by the World Health Organization when drafting the action plan.

Non-communicable diseases: 47 million deaths per year

NCDs which includes cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancers and chronic respiratory disease is projected to account for 47 million deaths annually in the next 25 years (WHO NCD Action Plan). Low- and middle- income countries are the worst affected by such diseases which can be prevented through lifestyle changes. The main risk factors being: tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.

The economic impact of such diseases is also vast and the number of work days lost has an obvious effect on productivity. WHO estimates that between 2005–2015, income loss could be as much as $558 billion in China, $237 billion in India, $33 billion in Russia and $33 billion in the UK.    

Implementation of the global strategy    

On endorsing the action plan for the global strategy for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases member states were urged to strengthen national efforts to address disease burden and to implement proposed actions in accordance with their national priorities. The Director-General was requested to consider within the framework of the medium-term strategic plan 2008–2013 allocating a higher proportion of budget to their prevention and control as well as reporting to the Sixty-third World Health Assembly, and subsequently every two years to the Health Assembly, on progress in implementing the global strategy and the action plan.    

By recognising NCDs as a health priority a significant step towards tackling its global burden has been taken.

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