We are pleased to announce the inauguration of the South East Asia Regional NCD Alliance during the Global NCD Alliance Forum 2020 in Sharjah, UAE. The South East Asia Regional NCD Alliance takes aim at minimising the incidence and prevalence of NCDs and to support comprehensive care, treatment and management in their respective countries. 

The WHO South East Asia region (SEAR) represents about a quarter of the world’s population in its 12 countries (Bangladesh, Bhutan, DPR Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor Leste). These countries share a common socio-cultural demography and have a similar high economic burden, morbidity and mortality from NCDs, thus the need to accelerate preventive strategies to offset this situation, and to achieve national NCD targets in keeping with the Sustainable Development Goals and Universal Health Coverage, through a ‘whole-of-government, whole of society’ approach.

To address regional NCD demands, organisations and alliances in SEAR convened an inaugural meeting of the South East Asia Region NCD Alliance (SEAR NCDA) on the margins of the third Global NCD Alliance Forum 2020 in Sharjah, UAE in February 2020. This is a joint effort to minimise the incidence and prevalence of NCDs and to support comprehensive care, treatment and management in their respective countries.

The birth of this regional alliance was initiated and coordinated by Dr Mahen Wijesuriya, Executive Director and Dhanya Wijesuriya, Director Administration of NCD Alliance Lanka. Dr Monika Arora, representative of the Healthy India Alliance (India NCD Alliance) and Board Member of NCD Alliance, was invited to chair the meeting. This was attended by representatives from NCD alliances from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Dr Monika Arora was invited to be the honorary Chairperson / Convener of the regional alliance, while Prof Dr S M Balaji was unanimously requested to be the Honorary Secretary and Dr Guha Pradeepa to be the Coordinator of the SEAR NCDA, for a period of 2 year (February 2020 to February 2022). In consultation with the alliance members, the Chairperson undertook the task of preparing the strategic plan to secure funding, while the Secretary was given the responsibility to formulate the constitution and by-laws.

All the members present were unanimous in their desire to work together to propel the coalition forward to benefit the people of our region.