Non-communicable diseases (NCDs)
Dr. Md. Shakhaoat HOSSAIN
Associate Professor
Department of Public Health and Informatics
Jahangirnagar University
1
Non-communicable Diseases
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are conditions that are not contagious
nontransmissible amongst people
E.g., -Ischemic heart disease,
-Stroke
-Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
-Diabetes
-Cancers,
-Chronic respiratory diseases
-Mental health disorders
“Four in five deaths from NCDs now occur in low- and middle-income
countries. Without decisive action, the NCD burden threatens to undermine the
benefits of improving standards of living, education and economic growth in
many countries.”
Martin Silink, President, International Diabetes Federation
ECOSOC Annual Ministerial Review meeting on NCD, Doha (May 2009) 2
Importance of Non-communicable Diseases
The burden of NCDs is higher than the burden of communicable diseases in
low- and middle-income countries and high-income countries.
Only in sub-Saharan Africa the burden of non-communicable diseases is
lower than that of communicable diseases
the burden of noncommunicable diseases is growing in low- and middle-
income countries because they develop economically, urbanize, and age.
The risk factors for several noncommunicable diseases relate in significant
ways to lifestyle and environment, much of which is modifiable.
Some noncommunicable diseases can be avoided or prevented at relatively
low cost, but the treatment of these diseases are often very expensive. E.g.,
Smoking cessation therapy and quitting smoking versus treating lung cancer
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 3
Burden of Non communicable Diseases
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 4
Burden of Non communicable Diseases
Deaths and DALYs from Select Noncommunicable and Communicable
Causes, by World Bank Country Income Level, 2019, as a Percentage of
Total Deaths and DALYs
[Link]
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Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 6
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 7
Addressing the Burden of Noncommunicable Diseases
In September 2011, the United Nations organized a high-level meeting on
noncommunicable diseases.
Resulted in an international political commitment
To reduce the burden of NCDs by 25 percent by the year 2025
the meeting highlighted a number of steps that countries could take to address
their burden of NCDs
■ Focusing on prevention and the main risk factors of tobacco,
alcohol, dietary risks, and the lack of physical activity
■ Engaging all government parties in the battle against NCDs
■ Increasing funding to address NCDs
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 8
The declaration further noted that countries should focus on
the following actions :
■ Take multisectoral, cost-effective approaches to addressing NCDs
■ Speed action on the measures indicated in the Framework Convention
on Tobacco
■ Implement WHO-recommended approaches to diet, physical
activity, alcohol, and the marketing of unhealthy foods to children
■ Promote cost-effective measures to reduce salt, sugar, and
saturated fats in foods and eliminate trans fats in food
■ Promote vaccination against the infectious causes of NCDs,
including the vaccines against hepatitis B and HPV
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 9
Global NCD Action Plan 2013–2020
In May 2013, the World Health Assembly, the governing body of WHO,
recommended the Global NCD Action Plan 2013–2020.
The action plan includes a number of voluntary global targets.
The action plan also contains a number of indicators for each of the
targets.
Global NCD Action Plan Voluntary Global Targets
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 10
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 11
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101
Reproduced from World Health Organization (WHO). (2013). Global action plan
for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, 2013–2020.
Geneva, Switzerland: Author.
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Selected Policy Measures in the Global NCD Action Plan
Important, evidence based and cost-effective measures in addressing the
burden of NCDs
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 13
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101
Reproduced from World Health Organization (WHO). (2013). Global action plan for the prevention and control of
noncommunicable diseases, 2013–2020. Geneva, Switzerland: Author 14
WHO Best Buys for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable
Diseases
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 15
Source: Adopted from Skolnik, R. 2020. Global health 101 16