Effective responses to non-communicabledisease: Embracing action beyond the health sector focuseson solutions, indicating opportunities for the preventionand control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and thekinds of actions that will achieve it. NCDs exact a heavytoll on individuals and society. They cause disease,disability, and death, and reduce productivity which isvital for development. They also impose hefty costs onhealth services, particularly since NCDs frequently lead toongoing disability and need for long-term care. Preventionthat results in healthy aging and the reduction of morbidityis far more cost-effective and financially sustainable thantreatment alone. A small number of proven preventionmeasures could stem the rise of the NCD epidemic. Dataindicate the potential of affordable, potent, preventiontools focused on five key areas: tobacco, alcohol, diet,exercise and nutrition. Together, programs targeting theseareas could reduce the burden of NCDs by more than half,while costing only a tiny fraction of current healthspending. Since successful prevention involves multiplesectors and actors, countries will need to adopt a frameworkthat clearly sets out the different levels of accountabilityof each role player. Such a framework will require strongnational buy-in, but there are tools, examples, and supportagencies available to facilitate this. Middle- andlow-income countries can seize the opportunity and act nowto tackle NCDs and the underlying risk factors of thesediseases. If they do so, these countries will greatlyincrease their prospects of reaping the full benefits oftheir demographic dividend, and of ensuring sustainedeconomic development, greater equality, and a better qualityof life for their people in the years ahead.
PDF
download
878987797
028-85220240
