Warning message

Submissions for this form are closed.

Media Telebriefing: Covid-19 and Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs): Lessons learned from around the world

The NCD Alliance is pleased to invite media representatives to an on-the-record briefing on COVID-19 and NCDs: Lessons learned from around the world. The media briefing will take place on Wednesday 29th April 2020 and will provide an opportunity to discuss best practices and lessons learned so far in selected countries.

  • Emerging evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic shows many intersections between COVID-19 and NCDs. People living with NCDs (PLWNCDs) are more vulnerable to COVID-19, with a substantially higher risk of becoming severely ill or dying from the virus:
  • People with COVID-19 infection and cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes are at least twice as likely to die;
  • Smoking is especially deadly – the evidence base is clearly still in development, but one study found that smokers have 14 times greater odds of developing COVID-associated pneumonia than non-smokers;
  • People with comprised immune systems (ongoing cancer treatment, diabetes, COPD, people on steroid treatment, etc.) are at higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19;
  • People living with three or more co-morbidities (hypertension, diabetes, COPD/asthma, TB, obesity, smokers) are at higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19.

What: NCD Alliance Media Briefing: COVID-19 and Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs): Lessons learned from around the world. 

When: 13:00-14.30 CEST, Wednesday, April 29

How: Global Go to Meeting log-in details provided on registering. All registered media will receive an embargoed backgrounder prepared by the NCD Alliance. 

Who:

  • Civil society perspective, Katie Dain, CEO, NCD Alliance 
  • WHO COVID-19, NCDs ongoing work, Bente Mikkelsen, Director, NCD Department, World Health Organisation (WHO)
  • Norway, Ole Alexsander Opdalshei, Secretary General Assistant, Norwegian Cancer Society 
  • South Africa, Vicky Pinkney-Atkinson, Person living with various NCDs (psoriasis & immune compromised), Director of South Africa NCD Alliance
  • USA, Johanna Ralston, CEO, World Obesity Federation
  • India, Monika Arora, Executive Director, Healthy India Alliance
  • United Arab Emirates, Ibithal Fadhil, President, Eastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance 

Moderator: Katie Dain, CEO, NCD Alliance

Further information: Michael Kessler, [email protected], +34 655 792 699

Listen to briefing recording