Alliance sur les MNT

The International Liaison Group on Tobacco or Health (ILGTH) which is responsible for selecting the venue of the World Conference on Tobacco or Health is now launching the bidding process for the World Conference on Tobacco or Health 2018 to be held in Africa.

Patient Solidarity Day, on 6 December 2014, will focus on efforts aligned with universal health coverage and raising awareness about patient-centred healthcare. 

The campaign is leaded by the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO). The Morris Moses Foundation is the founder of the initiative. They launched this campaign as way of assisting suffering patients during the 2011 doctors strike and was observed by both Kenya and Uganda.

Taking place under the tagline ‘Not beyond us’, World Cancer Day 2015 will take a positive and proactive approach to the fight against cancer, highlighting that solutions do exist across the continuum of cancer, and that they are within our reach.

Obesity is a critical global issue that requires a comprehensive, international intervention strategy. More than 2.1 billion people—nearly 30 percent of the global population—are overweight or obese. That’s almost two and a half times the number of adults and children who are undernourished. Obesity is responsible for about 5 percent of all deaths a year worldwide, and its global economic impact amounts to roughly $2 trillion annually, or 2.8 percent of global GDP—nearly equivalent to the global impact of smoking or of armed violence, war, and terrorism.

The World Cancer Congress begins in Melbourne on 3 December. A dedicated NCD Programme will address cancer within the broader context of the NCD response.

In addition, NCD Alliance supporters are hosting the NCD Cafe, which offers interactive sessions throughout the Congress.

A new study by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization (WHO), shows that nearly half a million new cancer cases per year can be attributed to high body mass index (BMI).

The study, published today in The Lancet Oncology, highlights that overweight and obesity have become a major risk factor, responsible for an estimated 3.6% (481 000) of all new cancer cases in 2012.

The WHO Regional Committees, held annually, are an important forum for Member States to discuss elements of the global NCD Framework and contribute to the on-going post-2015 discussions. The 2014 WHO Regional Committee Meetings concluded in early November. Highlights of each meeting and a detailed summary of discussions on NCD-related agenda items can be found here.

Photo courtesy: PAHO/Flickr, 2014

Eat for Goals! is a new cookery app which gives young people the opportunity to cook the same heart-healthy recipes as some of the world’s top footballers. Based on the successful Eat for Goals! book, the app encourages young people to eat healthily and lead an active lifestyle, in order to reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.

Eat for Goals! was originally created under the patronage of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), World Heart Federation and the European Commission. Now it is available in a new format with Eat for Goals! app.

Are you attending World Cancer Congress 2014?

With the increasing importance given to NCDs worldwide, you would not want to miss the latest fresh perspective from frontline health professionals, policymakers, technologists, philosophers and business people on how to address chronic disease challenges.

The NCD Café Program for the World Cancer Congress 2014 welcomes you for a coffee or healthy snack whilst providing a unique space for interactive sessions on NCDs, with a focus on integration, partnerships and multidisciplinary experiences in low and middle-income countries.

As part of NCD Alliance Program ‘Strengthening Health Systems, Supporting NCD Action’, the South Africa NCD Alliance held a meeting last week in Johannesberg, entitled NCDs Health Systems Strengthening Kopano. The meeting engaged over 90 stakeholders from a range of sectors.

The meeting took place in Johannesburg and engaged patient advocacy groups, civil society, national and provincial health department officials, trade and professional associations, researchers, and others.