Note: World Lung Foundation united with The Union North America. From January 2016, the combined organization is known as “Vital Strategies.”
(New York, United States) – World Lung Foundation today announced it has joined the NCD Alliance to advocate for the inclusion of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Working toward a high-level summit meeting that will be attended by heads of state and leading global policy makers in September 2011, WLF has pledged its full support to ensuring NCDs are appropriately addressed at this unprecedented Summit.
The NCD Alliance was founded by four international federations (International Diabetes Federation, Union for International Cancer Control, World Heart Federation, and the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease) representing the four main NCD areas identified by World Health Organization: diabetes, cancer, heart disease and lung disease. These disease groups share common risk factors, in particular tobacco use, and also common solutions, providing a mutual platform for collaboration and joint advocacy.
WLF has so far joined two of the NCD Alliance’s main working groups: High Level Advocacy and Reaching the Public, and Implementation of the FCTC. WLF’s objective is to influence opinion leaders and generate grass roots support from lung health professionals, tobacco control advocates and the public.
Peter Baldini, WLF Chief Executive Officer commented: “The global health community has reached a critical moment. NCDs are an overwhelming cause of poverty and a global health emergency, so the UN must recognize them if it is serious about global development. It is WLF’s responsibility to join the fight against NCDs and we are most keen to share our expertise in tobacco control as tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and remains the most significant risk factor for these deadly disease groups. Effective tobacco control more than any other single measure could advance the elimination of NCDs.”