Specially equipped coronavirus field hospital area station near the hospital in central Florence, Italy. ©Shutterstock

COVID-19: Calls to action from NCD civil society

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This page provides a summary of the latest COVID-19 advocacy efforts and calls to action from our NCDA members, supporters and 65 national and regional NCD alliances.

Given the evolving situation of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it is becoming clear that people living with NCDs and older people are particularly vulnerable to COVID-19, and that health systems in rich and poor countries alike are ill-equipped to respond. We also know that COVID-19 does not discriminate and will exacerbate inequalities within societies, with vulnerable groups likely to suffer the most.

NCD Alliance Kenya

Statement by Persons Living with Noncommunicable Diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya. "We ask the Government, and related agencies, to prioritise the needs and care of PLWNCDs by placing them at the center of the COVID-19 response in Kenya". Read more

Cambodian NCD Alliance 

"This policy brief highlights the particular vulnerability of people living with NCDs, particularly older people. The brief summarises the latest evidence on COVID-19 and NCDs, the unique risks and challenges for Cambodia, and a number of recommendations for healthcare providers and the government in order to mitigate the risks of COVID-19 for people living with NCDs." Read more

Cameroon Civil Society NCD Alliance

"The latest evidence from epicenters of the Corona Virus show that persons living with Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) - like diabetes, Heart disease, Cancers, etc. and older people are most at risk of contracting the virus and experiencing more severe symptoms, compared to those without preexisting conditions". Read more

European Chronic Disease Alliance (ECDA)

"People with chronic conditions are part of the specific risk groups who are more prone to developing severe forms of the disease according to current evidence. ECDA welcomes the advice of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) for these groups, their families and care-givers". Read more

European Federation of Neurological Associations

"We call on healthcare providers to endeavour to continue to provide the care required by those living with chronic conditions, including neurological disorders, during and in the recovery phase of this pandemic". Read more 

FDI World Dental Federation

"We are calling on you, the G20 leaders, to take coordinated action to ensure the security of the supply chain of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all health professionals and healthcare workers on the frontline against COVID-19 and in all countries alike." Read more 

Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance

"The Ghana Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (GhNCDA) is appealing to government to put measures in place to protect People living with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) to contain the spread of Coronavirus (COVID 19)". Read more

"It is evident that people living with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and adults ages 60 years and above as well as those with underlying health conditions are highly vunerable to Covid-19". A Letter to the President of the Republic of Ghana - Read more 

Gendro 

"Although attention to the gendered social, economic, and human rights repercussions as well as other health impacts, which deem to be harsh and long-lasting, is growing, evidence on these indicators has so far been scarcely available". Read more

Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC)

"We are conscious that many of these steps have already been taken by one or more countries in the region. We in civil society are of the view that more needs to be done to safeguard the health of PLWNCDs, and we are prepared to assist in what must be a multi-sectoral, whole-of-society response". Read more

"The COVID-19 pandemic threatens to undermine the gains made in recent years in the prevention and control of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs), as well as the maintenance of good health among people living with NCDs. Population-based COVID-19 control measures are creating environments conducive to significant dietary shifts away from fresh produce towards non-perishable, energy-dense, nutrient-poor, processed and ultra-processed foods high in fats, salt, and sugars". Read more

International Federation of Psoriasis Associations (IFPA)

"This unprecedented challenge is creating severe disruptions to societies and economies, testing health systems worldwide, and profoundly impacting the lives of the most vulnerable". Read more

International Society of Nephrology (ISN)

"The COVID-19 pandemic presents numerous challenges to health care systems around the world. Many initiatives focused on containing virus transmission may affect ongoing care of people with pre-existing health conditions, especially in resource-constrained settings." Read more

International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Diease (The Union)

"The Union is deeply concerned about COVID-19’s impact on the world’s 1.3 billion smokers and the low- and middle-income countries whose health systems are plagued by tobacco-related disease". Read more

International Union for Health Promotion and Education

"The current COVID-19 crisis will aggravate social inequalities in health outcomes in both the immediate and long-term, and within and between countries, unless responses across all levels of decision-making consider its social and economic origins and consequences". Read more

Movendi International

"Movendi International is gravely concerned about free PR and extensive media coverage of a health harmful industry; we are worried about preferential treatment of alcohol producers by regulators that might foment alcohol harm; and we are seriously concerned about the deregulation and weakening alcohol policy protections". Read more

NCD Alliance Kenya (NCDAK)

"NCDAK is doing its part to ensure that persons living with NCDs have adopted social distancing, hand washing and sanitising and all relevant guidelines from the government". Read more (page 1) and (page 2). 

NCDI Poverty organizations

"The epidemic of COVID-19 that is sweeping the world in 2020 is an economic and biological threat to these vulnerable populations". Read more

The George Institute for Global Health

Recommendations on the role of community health workers (CHWs) in the COVID-19 response. Read more

United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG)

"Shared responsibility, global solidarity: Responding to the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19". Read more

Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 2030

"Faced by the COVID-19 crisis, it is crucial that world leaders remember their universal health coverage commitments". Read more

World Heart Federation (WHF)

"the World Heart Federation (WHF) calls for an equitable and generous emergency response to COVID-19. The proposed urgent measures include ensuring equal access to treatment and care, scaling up prevention in poor areas, addressing the shortage of health workers, and calling for industry’s responsibility." Read more

World Obesity Federation

"Recognise that obesity, and other NCDs appear to increase risk and likely worsen the outcomes of COVID-19 and as such ensure that those people living with these diseases are provided advice if they have symptoms, and where possible tested and provided care early". Read more

"A group of global obesity leaders have today (11/06/2020) published an open letter to Dr Tedros, WHO Director General, calling for increased recognition of the links between obesity and COVID-19 complications and asking for obesity to be included in technical guidance and other materials published by WHO." Read more

Please share your advocacy efforts and organisation statements to the COVID-19 response via this webform. 

As ever, the power of the NCD movement is in our collective expertise and experience.