Reclaiming Progress Against Non-Communicable Diseases

That is why the World Health Organization has released a new report on non-communicable diseases and the threat they pose to people across the globe.

Understanding Non-Communicable Diseases

There are four major categories of non-communicable disease:

1. Cardiovascular diseases
2. Cancer
3. Diabetes and
4. Chronic respiratory disease.

The factors that can contribute to these diseases span a wide range, including social, environmental, commercial and sometimes genetic.

Non-communicable diseases do not discriminate, with almost three quarters of deaths across the globe being attributed to them. But there is good news. Many of these deaths can be avoided.

Helping Countries Address Non-Communicable Diseases

A new implementation roadmap from the World Health Organization seeks to assist countries in addressing non-communicable diseases and their risk factors.

The roadmap focuses on three strategic directions:

1. Understanding the drivers and trajectories of non-communicable diseases across regions.
   This involves evaluating progress toward non-communicable disease targets and identifying barriers that prevent regions from implementing interventions.

2. Scaling the implementation of feasible and impactful interventions.
   This entails working across governments and stakeholders to identify the best interventions, accelerate the implementation of these interventions, and ensure these interventions align with other national and international health goals.

3. Making timely, reliable data available on risk factors, diseases and mortality.
   The availability of accurate and timely data is important for the continued monitoring and assessment of progress.

Resuming Pre-Pandemic Progress

The global COVID-19 pandemic worsened the burden of non-communicable diseases by disrupting care and increasing the risk factors for COVID-19. During the early months of the pandemic, 75% of countries reported disruptions to essential services for people with non-communicable diseases.

Now it is imperative to get countries back on track to reducing the global number of non-communicable disease deaths by one-third, a goal established as a part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Patient advocates and governments can work together to continue to spread awareness about the significant impact of non-communicable diseases and the ways that they can be addressed.