After the outstanding performance of the Turning the Tide series, reaching 128.5 million impressions across BBC.com audiences from February 2020 to February 2021, the NCD Alliance and partners are now launching a second series, Facing Forward produced by BBC StoryWorks. This second series will continue to raise awareness of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and highlight the stories of people who are living with NCDs across the globe, as well as those of the communities, institutions and private sector who are leading the way to prevent and control NCDs.

NCDs, including illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, cancer, mental health conditions and cardiovascular disease, kill around 41 million people every year, accounting for over 70% of all deaths worldwide and causing half of all global disability. The deaths from NCDs are projected to escalate to 52 million - 75% of all deaths - in 2030. Almost a quarter of all people currently live with at least one NCD, and the number of those living with more than one NCD has steadily increased over the past 20 years to become the new normal in many parts of the world. Although the burden is universal, low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are hit the hardest, with over three-quarters of all NCD deaths occurring in these countries. LMICs are also home to over three-quarters of people under 40 who make up the world’s poorest billion. NCDs cripple health systems, reduce human capital, undermine economic development and threaten global security.

Facing Forward is a series of 25 short films and 10 articles from Lebanon, Ghana, Guinea, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Kenya, Thailand and the Pacific Islands, amongst other countries.

The NCD Alliance encourage you to share this series and join the conversation using the hashtags  #FacingForward   #NCDs.