Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(November 18, 2015, New York, USA) – World Lung Foundation (WLF) today welcomed the Sharjah Declaration on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), arising from the Global NCD Alliance Forum held in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE), this past weekend. The Declaration commits civil society alliances around the world to work together, accelerate advocacy for change and monitor progress to more effectively reduce the global burden of NCDs. In addition, attendees committed to engaging more actively with governments, multilateral agencies, the business community and the media to address the many factors impeding faster progress in the fight against NCDs. Sandra Mullin, Senior Vice President, Policy, Advocacy and Communications, World Lung Foundation, commented:
“We applaud the Non-Communicable Diseases Alliance (NCD Alliance) on the resounding success of this first Global NCD Alliance Forum and recognize the vital support of Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi, Wife of the Ruler of Sharjah, Founder and Patron of Friends of Cancer Patients (FoCP), International Ambassador of the World Cancer Declaration for Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) and International Ambassador for Childhood Cancer for UICC. Those attending the meeting – and many other health advocates around the world – know that the battle to reduce preventable disease, disability and premature death from NCDs requires a combination of expertise, engagement and tireless effort. The Declaration reflects this reality, underlining several important truths: that the commitment and involvement of all stakeholders is needed to reduce the burden of NCDs, that it’s essential to set targets and monitor and report on progress, and that a light must be shone on the powerful vested interests standing in the way of more rapid progress.
“It is heartening to see some early ‘wins’ coming from the Forum, such as the news that the UAE intends to impose 100 percent taxes on tobacco products throughout the Emirates in the next few months. High tobacco prices and taxes are highly effective in discouraging youth from initiating smoking. Tobacco use is a significant risk factor for NCDs including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic lung diseases – and there are higher levels of smoking among people living with mental health issues. The majority of lifelong tobacco users have initiated tobacco use before the age of 18 years and few people start smoking after the age of 26 – so this proposal could make a real difference to reducing the future burden of NCDs in the UAE.
“It is also testament to the commitment of the NCD Alliance community – and the support of the Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Mohammed Al Qasimi – that the Forum will reconvene in Sharjah in 2017 to reflect on the progress made and to refresh the Alliance’s targets for the years ahead. At World Lung Foundation, we welcome the spirit and the letter of the Sharjah Declaration and stand ready to provide assistance to our partners around the world – in government and civil society – to help reduce the needless death, suffering and economic loss caused by preventable disease.”
The challenge of reducing the burden of 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 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 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). 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 wellbeing”. The NCD Alliance and its member organizations – including World Lung Foundation – 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.