Description

This sectoral brief is tailored specifically to the executive branch of government. It expands upon the following key points regarding what heads of state and government need to know about NCDs:

• Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) constitute one of the major challenges for development in the 21st century.
• Premature deaths from NCDs, and their impacts, are mostly preventable.
• Action on NCDs is not just the right thing to do – it makes economic sense.
• There are five main priorities for Heads of State and Government in confronting NCDs:

1. Provide leadership for NCD prevention and control as part of the development agenda;
2. be held accountable for national progress on NCDs;
3. Fulfil obligations under the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control;
4. Act to ensure no industry interference in government policymaking; and
5. Hold the UN System and development partners accountable for providing support on NCD prevention and control.

• Some Heads of State and Government are showing remarkable leadership in tackling NCDs…
• …but in other cases progress has been insufficient and highly uneven.