Allianza de ENT

In less than one year’s time, a momentous opportunity will present itself to put non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on the global health and development agenda. The UN High Level Summit on Non-Communicable Diseases in September 2011 is a global platform from which the world can be moved from rhetoric to action.

The final Declaration of the annual United Nations conference for NGOs recognises noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) as one of the significant health challenges facing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Declaration from the Conference, agreed by 1,600 participants representing over 350 NGOs from more than 70 countries, also called on governments to “respect and implement” international health agreements such as the FCTC.

The NCD Alliance welcomes a consultation report released by the United Nations Non-Governmental Liaison Service (UN-NGLS) summarizing the progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The report, which compiles civil society’s views on subjects relating to the achievement of the MDGs, will prove to be a valuable resource leading up to the MDG Summit.

The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations recently highlighted the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) on women and girls and called on the international community to take action on addressing NCDs and strengthen health systems. In a communiqué issued after a high-level meeting from June 28 to July 2 in New York, ECOSOC’s 54 member countries recognized, “the increasing incidence of NCDs and their impact on women.” They stressed the need for multi-sectoral responses and the integration of cost-effective interventions aimed at combating these diseases.

The Pacific Island Health Officers Association declared a Regional State of Health Emergency on May 25th due to the epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the United States Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), which include American Samoa, Guam, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Palau, and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands.

The UN General Assembly has voted in favour of a UN Resolution tabled on behalf of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states to hold the first ever UN Summit on Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) in September 2011. Over 100 countries, including US, Brazil, Canada, Russia, China, India and the United Kingdom cosponsored the resolution, indicating that NCDs have become a global priority for world leaders and a core development issue on the global agenda.

The White House has released a comprehensive action plan for ending the US childhood obesity epidemic - and its life-threatening consequences - by 2030. Published in a report by White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity, the action plan focuses on two critical strategies: improving eating habits and increasing physical activity.