By Karen Stephenson

The United Nations Health Agency recently launched a network of leading international experts and groups to boost efforts to combat non-communicable diseases. The new global Non-Communicable Disease Network (NCDnet) will unite the fragmented efforts to help reduce cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and respiratory ailments worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization, non-communicable diseases cause 38 million deaths annually and, combined with injuries, are responsible for 70% of all global deaths; 80% of those deaths occur in the low-to-middle income countries. Deaths from non-communicable diseases are estimated to increase by 17% over the next decade worldwide, with the greatest increase projected to be in Africa, closely followed by the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Dr. Ala Alwan, WHO's assistant Director-General for Non-Communicable Diseases and Mental Health, was quoted in a UN News Service release as saying, "Integrating the prevention of non-communicable diseases and injuries into the national and global development agendas is not only achievable but also a priority for developing countries." He also stated that this new network will increase the focus on the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.

NCDnet is supported by the World Bank, the World Economic Forum and leading non-governmental organizations (NGO's). They will advocate for raising the priority given to non-communicable diseases in development work at national and international levels.

Challenges for Policy Makers

Policy makers need to address the links between non-communicable diseases and poverty, how to minimize the health and economic losses among the economically active population, and how to prepare current health care systems for the pressure that will result from the growing numbers of people suffering with non-communicable diseases.

This year's annual session of the UN Economic and Social Council recently met to discuss global public health. WHO expects that one of the outcomes will be that many delegates will call for similar goal setting in the fight against non-communicable diseases as has been done for other health challenges. Previous goals include halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all with a target date of 2015.

http://www.euro.who.int/noncommunicable#