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SE Asian countries pledge action against noncommunicable diseases
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Human health — World Health Organization (WHO) regional director for Southeast Asia Poonam Khetrapal Singh has warned of the dangers of non-communicable diseases. (Courtesy of WHO/-)
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orld Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia member countries have adopted the Colombo Declaration to curb a growing epidemic of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which kill 8.5 million people annually in the region.
The declaration calls for the strengthened delivery of services for NCDs at the primary health care level.
“This is a critical moment for health systems and the people they serve across the South-East Asia region. NCDs are already taking an unacceptable toll on populations, with the burden projected to rise in coming years. To avert this possibility, services for these diseases must be made available at the primary health care level, and high-risk populations must be provided all opportunities to access screening and treatment,” WHO South-East Asia regional director Poonam Khetrapal Singh said on Monday.
The declaration was adopted on the opening day of the 69th WHO Regional Committee Meeting.
Representatives of WHO South-East Asia member countries expressed serious concern at the burden of NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease.
As part of the declaration, health ministers pledged to undertake targeted screening for early diagnosis, as well as increase health guidance and counseling to promote healthy choices and self-care. Ensuring appropriate treatment, robust follow-up, management of referrals and focusing on and expanding NCD services to high-risk populations are key parts of the declaration.
“This is an important opportunity to reaffirm commitment to the global goal of reducing NCD-related premature mortality by one-third by 2030, and to actually map out how we will get there. Implementing effective policy solutions is vital to addressing the personal and social tragedy caused by NCDs, as well as their impact on economic development,” said Khetrapal Singh. (ebf)
