Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Background
Noncommunicable diseases are recognised as a major global challenge in the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. The Agenda sets the goal of reducing premature deaths from NCDs by one third by 2030 through prevention and treatment.
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes and chronic lung disease, are collectively responsible for almost 70% of all deaths worldwide. Almost three quarters of all NCD deaths, and 82% of the 16 million people who died prematurely, or before reaching 70 years of age, occur in low- and middle-income countries.
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) response
The WHO plays a key leadership role in the coordination and promotion of the global fight against NCDs. Their response to NCDs focuses on premature death. Very little focus is given to quality of life, meaning that hundreds of diseases are what we call “neglected non-communicable diseases”.
The WHO is perfectly placed to create global change, improving research, care, and information dissimination efforts. But first it needs to recognise neglected non-communicable diseases.
Why does this matter for people with ME and other neglected non-communicable diseases?
There is a global health crisis that is being ignored. Millions of people are living with chronic disease that is severely impacting their quality of life, and yet hundreds of these diseases are neglected on a world stage. Focus is aimed at high profile diseases such as cancer, heart disease, chronic lung disease and diabetes.
We need our global health leaders to address this forgotten crisis. To make this happen, organisations working around neglected non-communicable diseases must join together. This is why we are beginning to reach out to others to build broader alliances.
If you work for an organisation focused on another neglected non-communicable disease, and believe we could work together to lobby for change that addresses both our needs, please get in touch.