In a show of the interagency collaboration needed to address NCDs, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General Margaret Chan and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark sent a joint letter to all UN Country Teams, encouraging them to fully integrate NCDs into national development plans and programs.

This is a major step forward, and both Dr. Chan and Ms. Clark are to be congratulated on their leadership. The letter can be downloaded here. 

Further Reading:

WHO Background Summary (click here)

Helen Clark's Statement on NCDs at the UN High-Level Meeting (click here)

Options for partnership at the UN to address NCDs (click here)

Blog: UN Agencies Commit to Joint Action: A Potential Game Changer for NCDs? (click here)