Dr. Sania to co-chair global commission on NCDs

Islamabad: The World Health Organisation (WHO) Friday announced the establishment of an Independent High-Level Global Commission on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) that will propose solutions to accelerate prevention and control of leading killers like heart and lung disease, cancers, and diabetes. The good news for Pakistan is that the Commission is co-chaired, among other high-profile personalities, by former federal minister and President of Heartfile Dr. Sania Nishtar.

The Commission comprises heads of states and ministers, leaders in health and development and entrepreneurs. In addition to Dr. Sania, the Commission is co-chaired by the President of Uruguay Tabaré Vázquez, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, President of Finland Sauli Niinistö, and Minister of Healthcare of the Russian Federation Veronika Skvortsova.

NCDs are a cause of 7 in 10 deaths globally, with the main contributors being tobacco and alcohol use, unhealthy diets, and physical inactivity. More than 15 million people between the ages of 30 and 70 years die from NCDs annually. Low- and lower-middle income countries are increasingly affected, with half of premature deaths from NCDs occurring in those countries. Many lives can be saved from NCDs through early diagnosis and improved access to quality and affordable treatment, as well as a whole-of-government approach to reduce the main risk factors.

Co-chair Dr. Sania sees the Commission’s establishment as having come at an opportune time, as the world prepares for the UN High-level Meeting on NCDs. “This year, governments will be held to account on progress they have made in protecting their citizens from NCDs. While there have been improvements in some countries and regions, the overall rate of progress has been unacceptably slow. This is resulting in too many people suffering and dying needlessly from NCDs, and leaving families, communities and governments to bear the human and economic costs,” she pointed out.

The new Commission was established by World Health Organisation Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and will run until October 2019. It will provide actionable recommendations to contribute to the Third United Nations General Assembly High-level Meeting on NCDs scheduled for the second half of 2018. This will include the submission of its first report to Dr. Tedros in early June.