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UN adopts resolutions to reduce incidence of cancer and other noncommunicable diseases
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The 65th World Health Assembly adopted several resolutions related to noncommunicable diseases.
The landmark rulings are expected to reduce deaths caused by noncommunicable diseases (NCD) — such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases — by 25% by 2025.
“In the run-up to the UN Summit on NCD, we urged member states to include meaningful targets to prevent and control NCD. We particularly called for the adoption of an overarching goal to reduce preventable deaths from NCD by 25% by 2025,” Ann Keeling, chair of the NCD Alliance and CEO of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), said in a press release. “Member states deferred decisions about targets to 2012. Eight months on from the UN Summit, there can be no excuse for the world’s health ministers not to adopt at least this global goal, and supporting targets.”
According to WHO, delegates approved the development of a global monitoring framework to prevent and control NCDs. This includes five global targets:
- A 25% relative reduction in overall mortality from NCDs in those aged 30 to 70 years.
- A 25% relative reduction in prevalence of raised blood pressure among those aged 18 years and older (systolic BP ≥140 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mm Hg).
- A 30% relative reduction in prevalence of tobacco smoking among those aged 15 years and older.
- A 30% relative reduction in mean intake of salt among those aged 18 years and older, with the aim of achieving the recommended level of less than 5 g/day.
- A 10% relative reduction in prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults.
The newly enacted measures will encourage national and global partnerships by involving additional sectors other than health to prevent premature deaths and to reduce exposure to risk factors for NCDs, specifically tobacco use, the harmful use of alcohol, an unhealthy diet and physical inactivity.
“The adoption of this bold and ambitious target is a landmark event in the fight against NCDs,” Keeling said. “For the first time, all governments will be accountable for progress on NCDs.”
Perspective
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Harry S. Jacob, MD, FRCPath(Hon)
A small quibble, perhaps: Certain cancers should not be included as noncommunicable diseases. Papilloma-induced cervical and nasopharyngeal carcinomas, Kaposi’s sarcoma, Epstein-Barr virus-driven Burkitt’s lymphoma and other lymphomas come to mind. Moreover, the major interest in salt intake reduction yet minimal concern for overall obesity seems peculiar.
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