Non-communicable diseases - A Commonwealth Priority

Vanessa Baugh, Adviser (Health)

Social Transformation Programmes Division, Health Section

Thursday 28 October 2010

E-mail: v.baugh@commonwealth.int

            

Sharing values and principles:

Democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law, socio-economic development, gender equality, tolerance, respect, and

peace and security.

A unique family of 54 countries from every continent2 billion people – 30% of the world’s population

The Commonwealth

            Why are NCDs a priority in the Commonwealth?

            

66.5 million people in the Commonwealth live with

diabetes

(IDF, 2009)

            

Risk factors are rising:

e.g. The South Pacific Island of Nauru has estimated obesity prevalence

rates of:

86% in males & 81% in females over 15yrs of age.

* Obesity defined as: BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² (WHO, Global Info Base)

            

In 2010:

An estimated 25% of males in Commonwealth countries daily smoke

tobacco.

This compares to 8% of females, with trends rising in many countries.

(Data from WHO Global Info Base of 34 from 54 Commonwealth Countries)

            

In 2004:

153 per 100,000 deaths in males in Sierra Leone were caused by chronic

respiratory disease.

This is in comparison to 20 per 100,000 in St Kitts and St Nevis.

            

Challenges• Competing priorities

• Health system strengthening

(e.g. Skilled workforce, access to medicine)

• Cultural norms about risk factors

• Multi-sector collaboration

• Gaining and maintaining political engagement

• Funding

            

How has the Commonwealth been influenced and how has it responded?

            

CARICOM Declaration of Port-of-Spain, 2007:

“Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic Non-communicable Diseases”

The 2007 CARICOM Summit raised the global profile of NCDs and acted as an important catalyst upon which we and others have built our efforts.

            

Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, 2007“Lifestyle Diseases:

Health Systems Approaches”

            

• WHO Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs (2008-2013)

1. Raise the priority of NCDs; 2. Establish and strengthen national policies and plans for prevention and control;3. Promote interventions to reduce main common risk factors for NCDs4. Promote research for prevention and control;5. Promote partnerships for the prevention and control; 6. Monitor NCDs and their determinants and evaluate progress at the national, regional and global levels.

            

Statement on Commonwealth Action to Combat Non-Communicable Diseases

(Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, November 2009)

“We, the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth...

affirm our commitment to addressing the burgeoning

incidence of non-communicable diseases, and to increasing the

ability of our countries to respond to this emerging health crisis”.

            

Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, 2010

“When representatives of 54 governments and one third of the world’s population take an agreed stance on any single issue,

that stance can become a strong determinant of the final outcome in a broader international discussion”

(Mr. Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary General, Commonwealth Secretariat)

            

“….. the ambition for a world in which citizens enjoy long, healthy and

disability-free lives is being destroyed by the onslaught of the NCDs.”

(Hon. Dr. Leslie Ramsammy MP Minister of Health, Republic of Guyana)

            

Commonwealth Road Map Non-Communicable Diseases

(May 2010)

            

1. Conducting assessments

The Secretariat would support member countries to conduct the assessment and monitoring of the public health burden imposed by NCDs and their determinants.

            

2. Development of analytical tools/ products

A Commonwealth Report and Briefing Papers resulting from a Commonwealth-wide analysis of the NCD situation.

            

3. Development of a media strategy

Plan:• Develop key messages • Capacity building of media within national governments• Media workshop pre-CHMM, May 2011

            

4. Organise dialogues with the private sector, civil society and other agencies

Maintain ongoing partnership with national and international organisations

e.g. Consultative Meeting on NCDs, Nov 2010

Advocate across government sectors (education, trade, finance, etc)

            

Moving forward..

            

Commonwealth Health Ministers Meeting, 15 May 2011“Non-communicable diseases – A Commonwealth Priority”

The objectives of the Meeting are to:

• Discuss the implementation of the Commonwealth Secretariat Road Map on NCDs;

• Identify elements of possible contribution to the debate at the UN High-level meeting on NCDs in September 2011;

• Offer evidence and solutions

            

Examples of Best Practice –

Health Ministers Update, 2011

Do you have examples you wish to share across the Commonwealth and further afield?

            

UN High-Level Meeting on NCDS, September 2011

It is anticipated that messages from the CHMM 2011 will:

• Contribute to the preparedness of countries for the Meeting.

• Be expressed by Heads of Government at the UN High-Level Meeting.

Jamaica to be one of two UN Member States to co-facilitate the

Meeting

            

• After the Meeting..

Need to drive implementation whilst there is political momentum

            

In conclusion:

The Commonwealth comprises of a wide range of countries with various and unique needs and challenges.

The Commonwealth recognises that NCDs pose a credible threat to health and development.

NCDs are everyone’s concern; they are not only a health issue

            

Thank you.