GENEVA, 13 May 2011 -- An increasing number of countries are facing a double burden of disease as the prevalence of risk factors for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and cancers increase and many countries still struggle to reduce maternal and child deaths caused by infectious diseases, for the Millennium Development Goals, according to the World Health Statistics 2011 released by the World Health Organization (WHO) today.

Moscow - Noncommunicable diseases are the leading killer today and are on the increase, the first WHO Global status report on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) launched today confirms. In 2008, 36.1 million people died from conditions such as heart disease, strokes, chronic lung diseases, cancers and diabetes. Nearly 80% of these deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Noncommunicable diseases a two-punch blow to development

Patient advocates have called for greater involvement in the design and delivery of strategies to prevent and manage non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and chronic diseases, at the International Alliance of Patients' Organizations (IAPO) African Regional Network Meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa. The meeting was held with the support of two South African patient groups: the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) and the Patients' Health Alliance of NGOs (PHANGO).