Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

NCDs are a priority for the Commonwealth

Background:

NCDs account for 60% of the global disease burden. These diseases mainly include diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, cancers and chronic respiratory diseases, which together contribute to an estimated 35 million deaths per year globally.

These are not diseases of the “rich”, since 80% of the global deaths are within low and middle income countries.

Alarmingly, the incidence of NCDs is rising. This places an ever growing burden on health systems and economies and thereby poses a serious threat to sustainable development. Fortunately, the risk factors of NCDs - obesity, physical inactivity, excess alcohol intake and tobacco use - can be prevented or modified. 

The work of the Commonwealth Secretariat:

Commonwealth Heads of Governments met in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009 affirming their commitment to address and respond to the growing epidemic of NCDs. A statement on “Commonwealth action to combat NCDs” was issued, which called for an accelerated response to the epidemic and for the United Nations to host a summit to address these diseases.

Prior to this in 2007, Commonwealth health ministers had discussed “Lifestyle Diseases: Health Systems Approaches” in recognition of the increasing burden of NCDs.

Commonwealth health ministers met in Geneva in May 2010 and adopted the Commonwealth Secretariat Road Map on NCDs. This ‘Road Map’ seeks to operationalise the Commonwealth Heads of Governments’ statement, listing activities to be implemented by the Commonwealth Secretariat.

The forthcoming Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting (CHMM) in 2011 is to be held in Geneva on 15 May 2011. The theme of this meeting will be “Non-communicable diseases – A priority for the Commonwealth”, which further endorses the commitment of the Commonwealth to respond to this global epidemic.

Related Documents

• Progress Report: The Commonwealth Secretariat Road Map on Non-Communicable Diseases
• CHOGM - Statement on Commonwealth Action to Combat Non-Communicable Diseases
• Report on the Commonwealth consultative meeting relating to NCDs November 2010
• Taking up the challenge of non-communicable diseases in the Commonwealth: 17 good-practice case studies