Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(August 6th, 2015, New York, USA) – The NCD Alliance and World Lung Foundation applaud governments around the world on the final Outcome Document of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, which provides a blueprint for achieving optimal, sustainable human development over the next 15 years. They further encourage governments to use proven strategies and collaboration with scientific and civil society organizations to accelerate the delivery of the Agenda’s health-related goals.
For the first time, reducing deaths and suffering caused by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and related issues including tobacco control and reducing the harmful use of alcohol, are included as global development objectives, alongside poverty, education, and the environment. Informally agreed on Sunday, the text of the document will be formally adopted at a UN General Assembly Summit in September, marking the end of over three years of negotiations, and the start of collective action to achieve these development goals worldwide by their 2030 end date.
José Luis Castro, Executive Director, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) and President & CEO, World Lung Foundation and The Union North America, said: “We are particularly gratified to see reducing deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) finally recognized as an integral part of securing a healthy and prosperous future for all people, everywhere. We commend the tenacity and dedication of governments and the targeted advocacy by civil society that has delivered an agenda that underlines the fundamental dependency between health and wellbeing, environmental protection, social development, and prosperity.”
NCDs – namely cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic lung diseases, and mental and neurological disorders – are today responsible for the majority of the global disease burden, killing approximately 38 million people every year. While all countries are affected, developing countries are hit the hardest.
The organizations encourage immediate action to realize these ambitious sustainable goals by their 2030 end date.
“There is no better time to start planning and implementing concrete strategies to deliver change. For health we already know that governments can make decisions today that will impact NCDs quickly and effectively. For example, increasing taxes on tobacco is known to have a rapid and long term impact on reducing smoking levels in every country,” said Dr. Cary Adams, Chair of the NCD Alliance and CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control.
Proven strategies that reduce tobacco use are well known and shown to cost very little; countries need to implement and enforce the WHO Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (FCTC) in order to make a real difference. What’s more, revenues from higher tobacco taxes could be used to pay for programs that help countries meet their NCD and development targets.
Improving food and nutrition security, preventing the harmful use of alcohol, and strengthening health systems are all of critical importance for NCD prevention and care, and are also covered in the new development framework. Building on the commitment captured in the 2000 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), governments have re-affirmed the provision of essential medicines and vaccines as part of their vision.
“Improving access to quality, affordable essential medicines, vaccines, and technologies will be equally important, as part of our efforts to redefine what healthy, sustainable development mean,” said Dr. Adams.
Positive steps for global health overall
The full range of 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) in the outcome document includes a specific goal for health, SDG 3, which commits to “Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” Within this goal are targets covering the range of global health priorities including reducing preventable maternal and child death, ending communicable disease epidemics, reducing road traffic fatalities, addressing the harmful use of alcohol, and achieving universal health coverage (UHC). Larger issues with impact on health are covered in other goals, including those on achieving gender equality, assuring sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, reducing air pollution, promoting sustainable urban development, and ending hunger.
“Scientific and civil society organisations are well-positioned to support governments in taking action,” said Mr. Castro. “The NCD Alliance and its member organisations provide valuable technical expertise and financial resources in the areas of tobacco control, obesity, maternal health, NCDs, research, health data, communicable diseases, training for health professionals, and road safety. We can help build health systems and resilient social foundations that help people realise good health and wellbeing.”
About NCD Alliance
The NCD Alliance (NCDA) is a network of over 2,000 civil society organizations from 170 countries united by our vision for a future free from preventable suffering and death caused by NCDs. It is led by seven leading international federations – the Union for International Cancer Control, International Diabetes Federation, the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), the World Heart Federation, Alzheimer’s Disease International, the Framework Convention Alliance and Management Sciences for Health.
For more information, please visit ncdalliance.org, find us on Twitter at @ncdalliance, or contact info@ncdalliance.org