ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE UN HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ON NCDS

We are very proud and happy to mark the first anniversary of the UN High-Level Meeting on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases, held 19-20 September 2011, and the adoption of the Political Declaration on NCDs. The past year has been a testament to progress on NCDs at the global level, particularly with our victory of the adoption of the target to reduce premature mortality by 25% by 2025 at the World Health Assembly (WHA).

Still, this is only the beginning of a long journey toward a healthy future. We must ensure that the mandates of the Political Declaration are fully developed and successfully implemented at all levels, and among all stakeholders. We will continue to advocate for a comprehensive Global NCD Framework and the inclusions of NCDs in the Post-2015 Development Agenda .

To commemorate this momentous occasion, NCDA has written an open letter to UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-moon. In this letter, we thank him for the continued attention and action on NCDs, and pledge our support as the global and UN system’s responses to the NCD crises are further developed. You are encouraged to use this letter as a template in reaching out to your respective leaders in commemoration of the HLM anniversary. We have also written a short note to UN Member State missions in Geneva and New York to commemorate the anniversary, commend them for their actions so far, and gently remind them of the work still ahead.

We are not alone in marking this anniversary, either. Please see below how other organisations have been honouring this anniversary:

  • World Heart Federation as part of the Global Cardiovascular Disease Taskforce is releasing a new paper acknowledging that ‘agreement by governments, by the end of 2012, on a set of ambitious global targets to curb the growing scourge of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which includes cardiovascular disease (CVD; heart disease and stroke), is critical to avoiding the millions of premature deaths worldwide.’ The Taskforce calls upon governments to support at least 10 targets for the Framework. The paper will be released on September 29th to celebrate World Heart Day.
  • International Diabetes Federation is celebrating the UN Summit Anniversary by looking at progress on diabetes and NCDs over the past year by using the framework of the five priorities in the NCDA proposed outcomes document – political leadership, international cooperation, prevention, treatment, monitoring and accountability.  It will show the progress achieved and what still needs to be done. A special webpage will be dedicated to this.
  • Arogya World produced a series of op-ed pieces in partnership with Young Professionals Chronic Disease Network (YPCDN) with leaders in public health such as Sir George Alleyne, Nils Daulaire, Princess Dina Mired, Peter Piot, Jill Sheffield, Rachel Nugent, Felicia Knaul, Derek Yach and NCD Alliance Steering Group members Johanna Ralston and Ann Keeling. The pieces are and will be featured in the Huffington Post and The Guardian's Development.
  • Uganda NCD Alliance is marking the anniversary of the High-level Meeting with the release of a commentary offering a clinician’s perspective on the impact of the Summit and what needs to be done to fully realize its potential on the ground.
  • The Lancet, for the annniversary of the High-Level meeting, published an Editoral commenting on the role of the UN in the possibility of missing an opportunity to influence global health policy, and the post-2015 development framework.
  • NCD Alliance partners at the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, and American Diabetes Association have released a joint statement, recalling the importance of the HLM and noting the work ahead.