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

Date 14 February 2006
Press Release No: N/06/2006

WHO, UNESCAP PROPOSE NEW GLOBAL HEALTH GOAL

New analysis presented today shows vast majority of global chronic disease pose heavy can be prevented

Bangkok (UN Information Services) -- A new global goal: to reduce the projected chronic disease death rates by 2% each year until 2015 would prevent 36 million people dying of chronic diseases in the next 10 years - significantly, 25 million of those lives saved would be in the UNESCAP region.

That is the recommendation of a WHO report of the Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment that was launched today at the United Nations Conference Centre, Bangkok.

"This growing epidemic has substantial macro-economic impact on the economies of the region. Countries in the region, such as China, India and the Russian Federation, could forego billions of dollars in national income over the next 10 years as a result of chronic diseases, in addition to losing their human resources," said Mr Kim Hak-Su, Executive Secretary, who launched the Report today at the UN Conference Centre.

"It is clear that the weight of the burden of chronic disease is in the UNESCAP region. And it is also clear that with increased investment in chronic disease prevention this is the region which can make the biggest difference and save the most lives. The fight against chronic disease must begin here and it must begin now," said Dr Catherine Le Galès-Camus, Assistant Director-General of Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health at the regional launch.

Preventable risk factors

Three of the most important are unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use. Globally, these risks are increasing as people's eating change to foods high in fats and sugars, and people's work and living situations are much less physically active.

One billion people globally are overweight or obese, and WHO predicts that will rise beyond 1.5 billion by 2015 without immediate action.

Many countries in the UNESCAP region have already begun to take action to address these risk factors and reverse the current trend. Indonesia, the Philippines, Tonga and Viet Nam have applied a WHO-recommended Stepwise Planning Framework, an approach to chronic disease prevention that is flexible enough to be applied successfully in any country.

China has implemented a national cancer prevention and control plan and is in the process of finalizing a national chronic disease prevention and control plan. The Government of India has also shown progress in the fight against chronic diseases, through a national cancer control programme and the enactment of strict tobacco control laws.

But in order to reach the goal of saving 36 million lives - 25 million in the UNESCAP Region - by 2015, much more needs to be done. And it will have to involve all sectors from government, private industry, civil society and communities.

Global voices in support:

"I believe that, if existing interventions are used together as a part of a comprehensive integrated approach, the global goal for preventing chronic disease can indeed be achieved and millions of lives saved. This is a brighter future we can dedicate to children all around the world."
Anbumani Ramadoss, Minister of Health & Family Welfare, India

"We can measure the loss of income to the Chinese economy alone at a staggering US$550 billion over the next 10 years. In response to these facts, the Ministry of Health of China, with the support of WHO, has been developing the first medium- and long-term high level national plan for chronic disease prevention and control."
WANG Longde, Vice-Minister of Health, the People's Republic of China

For full report, please find from < http://www.who.int/chp/chronic_disease_report/media/en/>

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