Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(September 24, 2015, New York, USA) – World Lung Foundation (WLF) is pleased to announce that its President and CEO, José Luis Castro, who is also the Executive Director, The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, today assumed the chairmanship of the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCD Alliance). Mr. Castro replaces Dr. Cary Adams of the Union for International Cancer Control, who steps down from his term as Chair of the NCD Alliance.
Reflecting on the opportunities and challenges for the NCD Alliance in the coming years, Mr. Castro said: “Since its inception, the NCD Alliance has benefited from the strength and depth of its global partners and the experience and commitment of its Chairs, Vice-Chairs and executive team. In particular, I would like to thank Dr. Adams for his great commitment and leadership over the past three years. Last year’s UN High Level Review on NCDs and the inclusion of NCD targets within the strategic development goals (SDGs) to be ratified in New York this week are both examples of the NCD Alliance’s achievements in recent years. As the global health community moves to turn the SDGs into action, it’s clear that there is much work still to be done to reduce preventable disease and premature death.
“The NCD Alliance and its global network of over 2,000 civil society organizations in more than 170 countries stand ready to make their contribution to this important work. I am honored to take up the position of Chair at this critical time and look forward to working alongside Johanna Ralston, CEO of the World Heart Federation (WHF) and new Vice-Chair of the NCD Alliance and NCD Alliance Executive Director, Katie Dain, and her dedicated team. Of course, I also look forward to working with all our valued partners around the world. Together, we will help governments to make significant progress towards ensuring a healthier future for all.”
The challenge of reducing the burden non-communicable diseases
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 strategic development goals – to be ratified in New York this week – include 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). Six years of tireless advocacy from the NCD Alliance and its global partners has helped to ensure that one of the targets included in SDG 3 is a commitment to “By 2030, reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well being”.
Broader issues with an 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.
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 – helping governments to adopt policies and interventions to reduce preventable disease and premature mortality in these areas.
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