October has been a very active month for NCDs activities. Remarkable progress was made in WHO South-East Asia Region on cardiovascular diseases during their regional committee meeting, cervical cancer elimination with Bhutan acting as a shining example to follow and newly released training courses on Diabetes and also Palliative care – hugely appreciated 10 years after the Resolution on Palliative care at the World Health Assembly. The region is showing the way on NCDs! Please also take time to read the Lancet publication on the progress. Lessons learnt and important activities in WHO Afro region during their Regional Committee meeting, as we are approaching the Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action on 17 November share your stories with us!
Cardiovascular Disease Risk focus at the SEARO Regional Committee Meeting
30 - 2 November NCD team organized a booth ‘Know Your Cardiovascular Disease Risk: Take Action!’ at the Seventy-sixth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South- East Asia. #RC76 considered SEAHEARTS, the platform which brings together risk factor reduction along with management of hypertension and diabetes. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment booth offered a non-lab-based risk assessment to familiarize the topic and to offer an important service to the participants. Distinguished delegates and participants had an opportunity to know the application of the WHO CVD risk tool and to know their risk level. Consultation and counselling were provided along with a tape to measure waist circumference and a booklet [iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/333221/9789240001367-eng.pdf?sequence=1]. This is a simple method that can be used as a pre-screening in low-resource settings when lab testing are not available to identify the people at high risk to undergo lab based CVD risk assessment or other diagnostic tests related to CVD. It requires only a simple set of parameters of age, sex, smoking status, systolic blood pressure and the Body Mass Index (BMI) evaluated against the country specific WHO CVD risk charts. A total of 208 Individuals underwent the screening and high officials of several countries requested WHO technical support in incorporating the non-lab based CVD risk assessment in population level screening programmes.
For more information contact Dr. Pradeep Joshi joship@who.int
Series of NCD courses developed by South East Asia Regional Office
Capacity building is a priority for NCD prevention and control and for palliative care. The WHO- South East Asia Regional Office has launched 4 courses in the OpenWHO Universal Health Care channel [https://openwho.org/channels/uhc]. It is first time there is an WHO series that can cover all aspects of NCDs. Courses provide resources and an evaluation with certification. All of the courses are based on WHO PEN, HEARTS and WHO guidance documents on palliative care. Please use them as needed, especially for WHO staff in country offices, consultants, academic programmes, ministry of health officers and primary care providers. The courses cover:
- An integrated approach to management of noncommunicable diseases in primary health care : https://openwho.org/courses/SEARO-NCD-management-PHC
- Interventions for Noncommunicable Diseases in Primary Health Care: https://openwho.org/courses/SEARO-interventions-NCDs-PHC
- Prevention and management of diabetic foot problems: https://openwho.org/courses/SEARO-diabetic-foot-care
- Palliative care: Models of service delivery and symptom management: https://openwho.org/courses/SEARO-palliative-care
For more information contact Nalika GUNAWARDENA
Progress in NCD in WHO SEARO: Lancet article
“NCDs in South-East Asia: journeying towards the SDG target” is the title of a new article in the Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia edition.
Against the regional target of a 30% reduction in the age-standardized prevalence of tobacco use (smoked and smokeless) by 2025 relative to 2010, the region witnessed a declining trend and is on track to achieve an average reduction of almost 32% by 2025. Bhutan’s Service with Care and Compassion Initiative screens everyone visiting health facilities for NCDs and covers home care, refill of medicines, reminder & follow-up for treatment & medication, referral and real-time monitoring. By 2022, the India Hypertension Control Initiative had registered over 6 million people under treatment, with the quarterly cohort blood pressure control rates showing significant improvement. With Thailand’s initiative, approximately 50,000–70,000 patients are diagnosed with hypertension monthly, with improved blood pressure control rates at clinic level. High level political advocacy accompanied by WHO guidance and tools including the NCD surveillance dashboard, have helped gather momentum and increase accountability for NCDs.
For more information contact co-author Angela DE SILVA
NCD achievements during the AFRO Regional Committee Meeting
During the AFRO Regional Committee Meeting in Botswana, the “ Framework for Implementing the Global Alcohol Action Plan, 2022–2030 in the WHO African Region” was adapted. Other NCD activities included a side event on cervical cancer elimination, titled “Building a Foundation of Africa Free Of Cervical Cancer.” The side event was co-hosted by the Governments of Comoros, Liberia and Malawi, other partners such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, UNITAID, the Global Fund, PEPFAR and UNICEF.
For more information contact Prebo BARANGO
Actualités sur l'impact du coût de l'insuline
Un article de Radio Canada explore l'impact du coût de l'insuline sur le diabète. À l'aide de faits et d'expériences vécues, il montre qu'un coût élevé peut empêcher non seulement la prise de médicaments, mais aussi le dépistage de la maladie. « Ça veut dire [...] que les patients de type 1, ils vont se présenter avec une acidocétose et mourir prématurément jeunes »,
Dr Slim Slama Chef d'unité, MTD, Gestion-Dépistage, Diagnostic et Traitement.
Pour plus d'informations contactez Slim Slama
Agreement signed between European Society for Medical Oncology and WHO
22 October An agreement was signed between European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and WHO. Announced on the first day of the ESMO Congress in Madrid it celebrates 22 years of ongoing collaboration. Together, WHO and ESMO have developed cancer policies in ten countries, updated guidance on how governments can increased access to cancer medicines and launched the first Global Status report on cancer, and so much more. An article was published in the Daily Reporter by the Director of the NCD Department Dr Bente Mikkelsen on how to improve healthcare in times of crises as also published: “Collaboration is needed to advocate for resilient healthcare systems that can navigate crises and deliver high-quality care to patients with cancer, even in the most trying circumstances.” WHO also participated in a session discussing Transnational Cancer Policies and how to drive improvements in national cancer plans.
For more information contact Andre ILBAWI
Improving access to medicines for neurological disorders
Neurological disorders are the leading cause of disability-adjusted life years and the second leading cause of death globally. The treatment gap for these disorders has been estimated up to 90% in many low-and-middle income countries. One significant factor driving this treatment gap is the limited accessibility to essential medications. Increasing access to essential medicines is one of the key action areas identified in the Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022-2031. To comprehensively understand the global challenges in access to essential neurological medicines, the Mental Health and Substance Use Department (MSD) has conducted a landscape analysis. Subsequently, in September 2023, in collaboration with the Medicines and Health Products Division, global experts participated in a consultation workshop at WHO Headquarters to identify key actions that could enhance access to medicines for neurological disorders. In line with this initiative, WHO has been actively engaged in supporting countries, particularly Ghana and the United Republic of Tanzania, to improve access to medicines for neurological disorders, focusing on two tracer conditions, epilepsy and Parkinson disease.
For more information contact Tarun DUA
Share your stories on action on Cervical Cancer
17 November: As we approach the Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action, we're reaching out to our global community, share stories of how you are taking action by organizing local activities, illuminating landmarks in your community, and advocating for change. Let us know how you are joining the movement by visiting our webpage here
Less Alcohol Webinar Series:
Addressing blind spots to accelerate the implementation of high-impact policy interventions 2023
7 November: In 2023, the Less Alcohol Webinar Series returns for its third edition, from September to December 2023. This year, the four-part series continues its aim to start global conversations on policy blind spots critical to reducing alcohol consumption. In 2023, webinars are a shortened 60-minute format. Each webinar will include a keynote presentation, three to four spotlight country cases, active moderation and an interactive experience for online participants. All events are free with prior registration. In this year’s edition, the following topics will be explored:
- Youth and alcohol: do new trends demand new solutions? 7 November 2023, 13–14:00 CET
- Measuring alcohol policy implementation: are existing tools and methods fit for purpose and use? 7 December 2023, 13–14:00 CET
See the Overview of the Less Alcohol Webinar Series 3rd Edition for more details on each webinar and to access the links to register. To receive programme details related to each webinar in advance, you can subscribe to the Less Alcohol Newsletter.
For more information subscribe to the Less Alcohol newsletter or contact: lessalcohol@who.int
Save the Date!
For Upcoming NCD Days & Events
- 11 –18 November London Global Cancer Week
- 14 November World Diabetes Day
- 15 November World Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Day
- 17 November Cervical Cancer Elimination Day
Do you have upcoming events? Contact Anne Kennedy
Please send your updates for inclusion in the next edition of the NCDs Newsflash: johannesa@who.int
