NCD Alliance

Ministers of Health from throughout the Americas agreed on October 1st to promote a set of measures designed to improve mental health care in their countries.

These include the preparation of plans to ensure effective services and prevention programs for people with mental disorders and psychoactive substance-related disorders.

Civil society engagement and governmental cooperation will serve to improve the  prevention and control of cancer and the elimination of inequities regarding access to health services.

A major commitment to strengthen health policies and financing schemes for the prevention of cancer and comprehensive programs, and the support of society to raise the level of women's empowerment is required.

Health officials from the Americas approved yesterday a plan of action to include health in all public policies that can impact the well-being of the population.

The Plan of Action on Health in All Policies was discussed during the 53rd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The plan promotes an approach to public policies across sectors that systematically takes into account the health implications of decisions and that prevents harmful health impacts, to improve population health and health equity.

NCDFREE launched today #theface, its latest global online and crowsourced campaign.

High-level health officials from throughout the Americas yesterday urged collective action by the region’s countries to expand affordable access to health care and to address other hemispheric health challenges, on the first day of the 53rd Directing Council of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Read press release here

Did you know that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one killer of women worldwide? Today is World Heart Day. Take part in the biggest intervention against CVD in the world: “Make a healthy heart your goal”.

On 19-21 November WHO and FAO will host the 2nd International Conference on Nutrition (ICN2) in Rome, Italy. Public interest civil society organizations (CSOs) and social movements (SMs) have been engaging with the ICN2 process since the Preparatory meeting in Rome in November 2013 and have committed to coordinating amongst themselves and organizing their collective engagement before, during and after the ICN2.

“We are starting interventions too late”, said Professor Mark Hanson, President, International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease; at the NCD Alliance side event “A Healthy Future for All: Investing in Early Years for NCDs and Post-2015”, held on 21 September 2014 at Westin Grand Central Hotel, New York, against the backdrop of the UN 69th General Assembly.

Many of the risk factors for NCDs originate in the early stages of life, as early as conception and patterns of consumption of unhealthy products and exposure to social and environmental determinants are established in childhood and adolescence.

There is an urgent need to translate the political commitment for an integrated approach to NCDs and RMNCH, reflected in the 2010 UN Secretary General Strategy on Women and Children’s Health and the 2011 UN Political Declaration on NCDs, into action and measurable results on the ground.

The 69th UN General Assembly high-level week begins this Sunday 21 September in New York. Numerous side events are planned throughout the week, covering NCDs, universal health coverage (UHC), maternal and newborn child health, and the post-2015 development agenda.

A selection of NCD-related events, hosted by NCD Alliance and our collaborators are below: