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WHO Urges Member States to Stem the Rising Tide of Noncommunicable Diseases
"Strong and committed political leadership is a prerequisite if we are to stem the rising tide of noncommunicable diseases," said Dr Shigeru Omi, Regional Director for WHO's Western Pacific Region* in his address to the fifty-first Regional Committee meeting. "In the past, noncommunicable diseases were regarded as diseases of affluence, limited to developed countries. We can no longer take this view, as the major burden of noncommunicable diseases now falls on developing countries," Dr Omi continued.
The annual meeting of the Regional Committee, WHO's governing body in the Western Pacific Region, is being held in Manila, Philippines from 18 to 22 September 2000. The Committee reviews WHO's work in the Region, including the status of controlling noncommunicable diseases. The meeting is attended by over 150 representatives from 37 countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region, including some 14 Ministers of Health.
Urbanization, industrialization and globalization are increasing the exposure of many people to unhealthy lifestyles and behaviour leading to the rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCD). These diseases, especially cancer, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and diabetes, are major public health issues in almost all countries and areas in the Western Pacific Region. Stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischaemic heart diseases and lung cancer ranked first, second, third and sixth respectively among leading causes of mortality in the Region in 1998. It is estimated that CVD kill 3 million people each year. There are about 3.5 million new cancer cases in the Region every year. The current number of people with diabetes is at least 30 million and this is projected to double by 2025. Of these 30 million people with diabetes in the Region, 75% are from developing countries.
Dr Omi further said that "limited resources, the low priority assigned to NCD and low awareness of risk factors, such as unhealthy diets, smoking and physical inactivity, have meant that many developing countries have been unable to respond effectively to the global NCD epidemic." For example, the prevalence of smoking among male adults in the Region is 60%, the highest in all WHO Regions.
To tackle the rising tide of noncommmunicable diseases, WHO urges Member States to plan and implement integrated approaches, which are more cost-effective and efficient than single disease programmes. Integrated programmes should ensure that different sectors and disciplines work closely together.
Dr Omi singled out one noncommunicable diseases, namely, diabetes. He said that "despite rising levels of diabetes in the Region, prevention and care is still a low priority in most national health plans and among international community." To heighten awareness of diabetes, WHO, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) have formed a regional strategic alliance. As an immediate outcome of this alliance, a Western Pacific Declaration on Diabetes and a Regional Plan of Action for 2000-2005 have been developed.
For more information, contact Mr Charles Raby, Public Information Officer at (632) 528 9983 or email:
* The 37 countries and areas comprising WHO's Western Pacific Region are: American Samoa, Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Hong Kong (China), Japan, Kiribati, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Macao (China), Malaysia, Marshall Islands, Federated Sates of Micronesia, Mongolia, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pitcairn Islands, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Viet Nam, and Wallis and Futuna