..Press Release................................ UNESCAP News Services

Date 9 February 2006
Press Release No: N/05/2006

WHO, UNESCAP LAUNCH CHRONIC DISEASES REPORT

New analysis presented shows vast majority of global chronic disease economic burden lies in the UNESCAP region

Bangkok (United Nations Information Services) -- World Health Organization (WHO) projections show that globally 388 million lives will be lost in the next 10 years to chronic diseases and close to 270 million of these deaths will be in the UNESCAP region.

The WHO's global report Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment, will be jointly presented on 14 February 2006 at UN Conference Centre, Bangkok, by Mr. Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary of UNESCAP, Dr Catherine Le Galès-Camus, Assistant WHO Director-General for Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health, Dr Supakorn Buasai, Director, Thai Health Promotion Foundation, Dr Robert Beaglehole, WHO Director, Health Promotion, Surveillance, Prevention and Management of Non-communicable Diseases, and Dr William Aldis, WHO Representative to Thailand will also participate.

"This occasion marks another step in the on-going collaboration between WHO and UNESCAP. At UNESCAP, we are committed to working with WHO and other partners in helping our member Governments evolve coherent policies to tackle the social and economic determinants of disease,” said Mr. Kim.

The report states that chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes ,are by far the leading cause of death in the world and their impact is steadily growing. New analysis focusing on UNESCAP member countries show that in 2005 alone, chronic diseases accounted for an estimated 67% of all deaths in the UNESCAP region. This figure is projected to rise to 72% of all deaths in 2015.

This epidemic is not just responsible for causing much needless suffering for individuals, families and communities but it also has substantial macroeconomic impact. China, India and the Russian Federation, for example, could forego billions of dollars in national income over the next ten years as a result of chronic diseases.

NOTE TO EDITORS:

You or your representatives are cordially invited to attend the launch of the report on 14 February 2006, at 1000 hours at Conference Room 4 of the UN Conference Centre, UNESCAP, Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, Bangkok.
For further information and to arrange individual interviews, please contact:
Mr. David Lazarus, Chief, UN Information Services, Bangkok, Tel. 02-2881866, Fax. 02-288-1052, Email: unisbkk.unescap@un.org.

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