World leaders at the United Nations High Level Meeting in New York this week pledged to tackle the growing burden of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases and cardiovascular diseases. This was the first major United Nations meeting on Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and resulted in commitments by member states to improve prevention, treatment and care.
NCDs are becoming a more common cause of premature death and disability in developing countries. Our region has some of the highest rates of such diseases in the world, with diabetes rates in some Pacific Island countries two to four times higher than the international average.
Over the next 20 years (2010 to 2030) it is estimated that NCDs will cost more than US$30 trillion worldwide.
In adopting the Political Declaration of the High Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases, world leaders agreed to a strong focus on prevention and strengthening health systems. Leaders also committed to work with the World Health Organization to develop global targets and indicators for responding to NCDs by the end of 2012.
In delivering Australia's national statement (external website) to the High Level Meeting, the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Hon Nicola Roxon MP, emphasised the need for countries to take action against this global challenge.
'Non-communicable diseases pose a growing threat–to our health systems, our societies, and our economies. And because they strike already disadvantaged communities and countries harshly, they risk further entrenching poverty and disadvantage around the world,' Ms Roxon said.
Ms Roxon announced that Australia will provide $4 million this year in new funding to the World Health Organization to assist developing countries to implement its Action Plan for the Global Strategy for the Prevention and Control of NCDs (external website).
Australia has already committed significant additional resources to addressing non-communicable diseases in our region, including a recent $25 million commitment (over four years) to help the Pacific Islands prevent disease through healthy lifestyle campaigns and assistance to introduce tobacco and alcohol legislation and fund diabetes clinics, as well as an additional $1 million to expand the Australian Sports Outreach Program in the Pacific.
More information
(external websites)
Political Declaration of the High Level Meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of Non-communicable Diseases
2011 United Nations High Level Meeting on Non-communicable Disease
World Health Organization