Working together with the IDF, UICC and The Union
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory disease, cause 60% of all deaths globally, 80% of which are in low- and middle-income countries (LMCs). Yet a recent survey showed that only 0.9% of the $22 billion spent on health by international aid agencies in LMCs is spent on NCDs.  

The World Heart Federation, International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (the Union) have joined to address this growing global epidemic which threatens to overwhelm healthcare systems worldwide. Together we represent 800 member organizations in more than 170 countries. Working collaboratively towards a common vision and shared values, we are calling for:

1. A United Nations General Assembly Special Session on NCDs  (NCD UNGASS)
2. NCD indicators to be included in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Review Summit in September 2010
3. Funding for Essential NCD Medicines

Take action: lobby on a national level for a UNGASS
Momentum for the UNGASS has been building quickly over the previous weeks following a briefing for UN Ambassadors held in New York on 5th February hosted by the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM), at which they announced their intention to introduce a United Nations General Assembly resolution asking Member States to support an UNGASS on NCDs (download the latest draft of the UN Resolution below). 

What you can do
Read the UNGASS briefing document which gives you the background on progress made to date as well as providing you with template letters, key messages and guidance on how you can lobby on a national level. Other supporting documents include:

•   Draft UN Resolution: UN Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases
•   Commonwealth Heads of Government Statement
•   ECOSOC High Level Segment Communiqué (July 2009)
•   126th WHO Executive Board MDG Review Paper
•   NCD Advocacy Newsletter: UNGASS Update
•   List of Key Country Groupings and Top 15 Donors

CARICOM Ambassadors in New York have started official negotiations with other UN member states on the draft UNGASS resolution. Negotiations are expected to take 2–3 weeks and a final vote on the resolution could take place between mid-April and the beginning of May.

Intense lobbying is needed at national level over the coming weeks to ensure a high level of awareness and support amongst governments. For a successful vote on the UNGASS Resolution, we need national civil society advocates to secure the support of their national delegations to the UN in New York, either directly though their country’s UN Ambassador, or indirectly through their Head of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Health, and other key national government contacts. The support of Ministers of Foreign Affairs is particularly essential given that UN Ambassadors report to them.

Since CARICOM states are introducing the resolution and fully support it, it may be useful for civil society organizations from the CARICOM region to contact their government representatives and pledge their support for the resolution.

Millennium Development Goals

Global health has arguably been moved to centre stage by the United Nations through the definition of the Millennium Development Goals, yet cardiovascular disease is not actively included. The World Heart Federation is advocating that heads of states and governments take the burden of cardiovascular disease into consideration when re-evaluating the Millennium Development Goals.  The World Heart Federation has pursued an all-inclusive, multi-pronged approach towards the inclusion of chronic disease as part of the Millennium Development Goals.  World Heart Federation Past President Dr Valentin Fuster has carried out advocacy work at the UN and has attempted to reach specific world leaders of great influence, including former US President Bill Clinton. The World Heart Federation was also featured at the Clinton Global Initiative Meeting in September 2006.

Read the following press releases and articles to know more about the World Heart Federation’s advocacy on the Global Health Agenda:

• "Governments ignore the world's leading cause of death", September 2005
• "World Heart Federation strongly supports WHO report on preventing chronic diseases", October 2005
• "Millenium Development Goals: chronic diseases are not on the agenda", The Lancet, October 2005
• "The prevention of cardiovascular disease worldwide: whose task and WHO’s task?", Clinical Medicine, Vol 5 No 4, July-August 2005