Peer Learning Advocacy Network on Prevention

The Peer Learning Advocacy Network (PLAN) on Prevention explores and allows peer learning through colleagues’ experiences advocating NCD prevention measures.

The PLAN on NCD Prevention has a focus on modifiable risk factors for NCDs - particularly unhealthy diets, alcohol use, tobacco use, air pollution and physical inactivity - upstream determinants, and cross-cutting issues, including opportunities around the WHO Best Buys and other recommended interventions.

Background

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the biggest killers in the world, with around 40 million deaths per year. Estimates suggest that 16 million of these deaths are premature (under 70 years of age) with major implications for the sustainability of health systems and countries' economies.

Most NCDs are preventable, or can be delayed, reducing NCD mortality and morbidity greatly through the implementation of cost-effective and evidence-based policies that curtail exposure to key risk factors for NCD, and would help pave the way towards achieving target 3.4 of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), reducing premature mortality from NCDs by one-third by 2030. To achieve this, governments need to address risk factors in a holistic manner looking at the connections and interlinkages between them.

In addition to the regular coordination and knowledge exchange calls, the following areas and developments have been identified as an opportunity to leverage and catalyse action on NCD prevention in 2021:

  • Nutrition and food systems: UN Food Systems Summit, Global Nutrition for Growth Summit
  • Air pollution: Best Buys for air pollution, UN Climate Change conference (COP26)
  • Commercial determinants of health and industry interference: Global Action Plan to reduce alcohol harm, SPECTRUM consortium, screening of the movie "El Susto"

The PLAN on Prevention has been created to bring together civil society organisations from different constituencies, and including national and regional NCD alliances, to share experiences and strategies to improve action on NCD prevention. Many of the lessons learned in the implementation of different prevention policies can inform advocacy on other risk factors, and there is an important opportunity to build on the global NCD community's knowledge to drive change.

NCDA full and associate members are invited to nominate up to two representatives from their organisations to take part in each PLAN, and will be actively engaged in the development of other Peer Learning Advocacy Networks. Nominate your representative(s)!

If your organisation is not yet a member of NCD Alliance, you can learn more about our membership benefits here and submit your application for full or associate membership using this form. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].

Current participants

  • ACT Promoção da Saúde (ACT Health Promotion),
  • AlianzaENTChile,
  • American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP),
  • American Heart Association (AHA) / American Stroke Association,
  • Burundi NCD Alliance (BNCDA),
  • Cameroon Civil Society NCD Alliance,
  • Cancer Research UK,
  • Center on Commercial Determinants of Health,
  • CLAS Coalición Latinoamérica Saludable,
  • Egyptian NCD Alliance,
  • Ghana NCD Alliance (GhNCDA),
  • Global Health Advocacy Incubator, a project of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids,
  • Health Finance Institute,
  • Healthy Caribbean Coalition (HCC),
  • Healthy India Alliance (HIA),
  • Healthy Philippines Alliance,
  • International Association for Dental Research (IADR),
  • International Diabetes Federation (IDF),
  • International Society of Nephrology (ISN),
  • International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union),
  • Kenya NCD Alliance,
  • McCabe Center,
  • Mesa Colombiana de Incidencia por las Enfermedades Crónicas (MECIEC),
  • Movendi International,
  • Non Communicable Disease Alliance Lanka (NCDAL),
  • Norwegian Cancer Society,
  • PVRI,
  • Royal Health Awareness Society,
  • Rwanda NCD Alliance,
  • Swedish Heart Lung Foundation,
  • Tanzania NCD Allliance,
  • The Fred Hollows Foundation,
  • The George Institute for Global Health,
  • The Wellbeing Initiative,
  • Uganda NCD Alliance (UNCDA),
  • Union for International Cancer Control (UICC),
  • World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRFI),
  • World Heart Federation (WHF),
  • World Obesity Federation (WOF),
  • Zambia NCD Alliance.

Check out NCDA's most recent resources on this topic