New York- In a demonstration of commitment to addressing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) at the highest political level, UNICEF and the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO), with NCD Child, held a Ministerial Roundtable on the occasion of this year’s Economic and Social Council Annual Ministerial Review. The breakfast, ‘Working Well! Safe-guarding adolescent and youth livelihood in the face of NCDs and their risk factors,’ explored the impact of NCDs on adolescent and young people’s participation in the workforce, the underlying risk factors and recommendations about policy decisions that would enable the prevention and mitigation of the impact of NCDs on young people’s capacity to enjoy their right to work.

Recognizing that “no single agency or government can solve the NCD problem alone,” UNICEF Director of Programmes Dr. Nicholas Alipui reiterated the agency’s decision to update its global publication, "Facts for Life", to include for the first time information about NCDs in children and adolescents. Dr. Alipui said that by updating "Facts for Life" with information about NCDs, ordinary people the world over will have access to vital information they need about preventing NCDs in children and adolescents, as well as non-technical information about diagnosis and treatment.

NCD Child released an Issues Paper on the same topic in support of this event, which further examines the relationship between NCDs and youth and adolescent participation in the workforce. This paper picks up on the NCD Alliance policy brief on children and NCDs produced last year in preparation for the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs.

To learn more about NCD Child, please visit www.ncdchild.org

For the issues paper: Click here

Official Summary prepared by UNICEF for DESA

Read the experience of a NCD Child Youth Delegate at the Ministerial Roundtable