|
WHO proposes a new global goal: to reduce the projected trend of chronic disease death rates by 2% each year until 2015. This would prevent 36 million people dying.
Preventing Chronic Diseases: a vital investment
Yesterday October 5'th 2005 WHO launched this new report. WHO stresses that the global epidemic of chronic disease can be stopped. It is projected that around 17 million people die prematurely each year from chronic disease. The economic consequences are also significant, with countries forgoing billions of dollars over a decade as a result of heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes.
Dr Robert Beaglehole, WHO Director, Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion said that the real tragedy is that more hasn't been done to avoid this epidemic, as overweight and obesity, and their related chronic diseases, are largely preventable. Approximately 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancer could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use".
New goal and partnerships
WHO proposes a new global goal: to reduce the projected trend of chronic disease death rates by 2% each year until 2015. This would prevent 36 million people dying of chronic diseases in the next 10 years, nearly half of them before they turn 70.
But these problems and their solutions lie outside the control of any one sector. In order to achieve the goal, all sectors from government, private industry, civil society and communities will have to work together. "More and more people are dying too early and suffering too long from chronic diseases," said Dr. Catherine le Galès-Camus, Assistant Director-General of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, "We know what to do, and so we must do it now".
The stepwise framework
In this report the stepwise framework is introduces. The stepwise framework offers a flexible and practical approach to assist ministries of health in balancing diverse needs and priorities while implementing evidence-based interventions. Partnerships among various groups, organizations and sectors are according to this report indispensable.
400 million people
Dr Catherine Le Galès-Camus, WHO Assistant Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health said that without action, almost 400 million people will die from chronic diseases in the next 10 years. Many of these deaths will occur prematurely, affecting families, communities and countries alike".
The Governments of Canada, Norway, and the United Kingdom supported the the production 'Preventing Chronic Diseases: a vital investment'.
Download the report - it is available in English. Summary also in Arabic, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and French.
See also:
Press release from WHO dated October 3rd 2005
Powerpoint presentation presenting this report and the background
Download posters
The Lancet has published a series of articles in support of the new report, which will be available at:
Preventing chronic diseases: how many lives can we save?
Preventing chronic diseases: taking stepwise action |
| |
|
