As part of the Our Views, Our Voices initiative, NCD Alliance has launched today a Global Consultation with People Living with NCDs to gather first-hand experiences of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and recommendations for governments to build strong, equitable and people-centred health systems and more resilient communities in the aftermath of the pandemic. 

The intersections between COVID-19 and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are clear, including the particular vulnerabilities of people living with NCDs to the COVID-19 pandemic. Perspectives of PLWNCDs are essential to understand current challenges and to boost efforts to strengthen health systems for NCD prevention and control and to protect people’s ability to lead healthy lives.

The World Health Organization (WHO)’s recent rapid assessment survey on service delivery for NCDs during the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that prevention and treatment services for NCDs have been severely disrupted. Health care systems are unable to meet the healthcare needs for NCDs including prevention, early diagnosis, screening, treatment, rehabilitation and palliation. The rapid assessment results reveal that this impact is global, but that low-income countries are the most affected.

In addition to WHO’s efforts to gather government perspectives on how prevention and treatment services for NCDs have been disrupted, it is important to provide the perspectives and first-hand views of those directly impacted. This will be key to illustrate the extent of the disruptions experienced and to support advocacy at the global, regional and national levels to meaningfully involve PLWNCDs in efforts addressing NCDs as part of the COVID-19 response and in looking ahead to build back better.  

The Our Views, Our Voices global consultation survey is seeking responses people living with NCDs, including care partners, and aims to: 

• Gather first-hand insights on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Inform advocacy at the global, regional and national levels to address NCDs as part of and beyond the COVID-19 response
• Inform a Global Charter on the Meaningful Involvement of People Living with NCDs planned for 2021, aiming to promote an NCD response that puts people first

The online consultation survey is available in three languages (English, Spanish and French) and will be open until the Sunday 8th November 2020.  

This Our Views, Our Voices global consultation with people living with NCDs is possible thanks to NCD Alliance’s partnership with Access Accelerated