Welcome to this NCD Newsletter where we review activities from around the world, including World Hypertension Day, No Tobacco Day, as well as advances in the gathering of global health data.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death globally, representing 32% of all global deaths and hypertension kills approximately 10 million people each year. As a critical step in developing a successful large-scale hypertension programme, WHO launched a guideline on the pharmacological treatment of hypertension in adults in 2021 and supports ministries of health to implement this through the HEARTS technical package. Tobacco use is one of four main risk factors common to the four main groups of NCDs and the Convention on Tobacco Control, celebrated on No Tobacco Day, is an evidence-based treaty provides legal dimensions for international cooperation. Both these issues, as with all NCDs issues, require data, for which the WHO STEPwise approach to surveillance (STEPS) is a surveillance tool through which countries can collect, analyse and disseminate core information on NCDs. Find out more below.
World Hypertension Day 17 May
The Government of India & WHO India organized a G20 co-branded event for "Accelerating the Prevention and Management of Hypertension and Diabetes"
India: Senior officials and leading experts participated in panel discussions on how to accelerate the prevention and management of hypertension and diabetes. The aim of the event was to demonstrate the scale-up of prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through Ayushman Bharat—comprehensive primary health care and an expanded services package for NCDs. It sought that G20 Member States adopt policies and programmes that improve NCDs outcomes and save the lives of people living with NCDs globally. Bente Mikkelsen participated as an expert in a panel discussion on “Implementation of HEARTS strategy and accelerating towards 75 million on standard of care by 2025” alongside senior government health officials and advisors.
For further information contact WHO Representative in India
Launch of the Kavre hypertension care cascade initiative in Nepal
Bagmati Kavre Hypertension Care Cascade Initiative was launched on the occasion of the World Hypertension Day. The Director General of the MOHP, Chief of District Coordination Committee, Mayors, Provincial Health Director of Bagamati Province, Prof Ram and his team from Dhulikhel hospital and WHO signed a commitment for the symbolic support and solidarity for the Kavre initiative. With the event, the Kavre initiative has now become formal programme and the Nepal target of 1.5 million new cases of hypertension and diabetes to be put on protocol-based treatment by 2025 has also been declared. A rally was organized comprising of general public, police, armed force and students to sensitize the people on the importance of BP check.
For further information contact: DORJI, Gampo
Bhutan: at least 50 000 Bhutanese on hypertension and diabetes management
Bhutan also aims to place at least at least 50 000 Bhutanese on hypertension and diabetes protocol-based management by 2025.
Timor-Leste: 50,000 people with hypertension and diabetes on care
Timor-Leste has rolled out an ambitious program of preventing and managing non communicable diseases titled ‘Timor-Leste Hearts’, which aims to place 50,000 people with hypertension and diabetes on standard care by 2025. The announcement was done at the celebrations for WHO's 75th anniversary organized jointly by the Ministry of Health and WHO Timor-Leste.
Thailand: Improving hypertension care cascade with more than 60% control rate through innovation
The Ministry of Public Health of Thailand commemorated the World Health Day 2023 with an online advocacy campaign calling the public to “Know their numbers” by measuring their blood pressure regularly and correctly. According to the National Health Examination Survey, in 2021, the estimated Thais with hypertension is 14 million and only about 50% of them are recorded to be under treatment. The campaign focused on reaching out to the remaining 7 million who has raised blood pressure and are not aware of it.
Jordan WHO Office rolls out technical package
The WHO HEARTS technical package continues rolling out in Jordan. The Jordanian Minister of Health is building its health workforce capacities on the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases. Training on HEARTS expanded from some centers in early 2022 to over 190 centers by mid-2023, involving 700 physicians and nurses and covering two thirds of the health directorates in the country. Clinical protocols on evidence-based management of hypertension and diabetes type 2 were developed based on the HEARTS package, tailored to the local context, and disseminated within primary health care level. Work is in progress to expand the package implementation into other settings, such as the UNRWA, which is running 25 clinics in Jordan serving the Palestinian refugee population, in addition to other NGOs that provide home outreach in rural areas. Building capacities is coupled with supportive supervision visits to the facilities to identify challenges to effective implementation on the ground. Primarily, understaffing, inadequate essential technologies and equipment, and underdeveloped health information systems are among the main gaps that must be a priority for reform within the healthcare system.
For further information contact: Dr Dana DARWISH
31 May World No Tobacco Day
20th anniversary of the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control
On World No Tobacco Day, WHO urges governments to stop subsidizing tobacco farming and support more sustainable crops that could feed millions. More than 300 million people globally are faced with acute food insecurity. Meanwhile more than 3 million hectares of land across more than 120 countries are being used to grow deadly tobacco. A new WHO report, “Grow food, not tobacco”, highlights the ills of tobacco growing and the benefits of switching to more sustainable food crops.
- Read the report here: https://shorturl.at/jMWZ0
- Learn more about No Tobacco Day here: https://shorturl.at/bcvw3
World Health Assembly Tobacco Events
During the 76th World Health Assembly a strategic roundtable marked the 20th anniversary of the adoption of WHO FCTC, gathered key players and brought renewed commitment to working towards a tobacco-free world. The DG gave a speech before the Strategic Roundtable, which celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control: a fit-for-purpose life-saving treaty. Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is an evidence-based treaty that represents a milestone for the promotion of public health and providing new legal dimensions for international cooperation.
The event was followed by an award ceremony for the WHO Director-General Special Recognition Awards, World No Tobacco Day Awards, and one WHO Director-General's Special Recognition Certificate for 41 individuals or organizations from around the world for their accomplishments in the area of tobacco control, in each of the six WHO Regions.
Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge
Tobacco Free Portfolios, a 2022 winner of the WHO Director-General Special Recognition Award and World No Tobacco Day Awards in 2022, marked five years since they launched the Tobacco-Free Finance Pledge by participating in the events surrounding the WHA76. The pledge highlights the leadership of financial institutions that have implemented tobacco-free finance policies and encourages others to follow suit.
For further information contact Jaimie Guerra
Smokefree homes factsheets launched
The NCD Office has launched a set of factsheets on smoke-free homes that bring forward the much-needed discussion on better tobacco control policies across the WHO European Region. With the introduction of smokefree regulations in public places, peoples’ homes have become a major source of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS), particularly for children. According to new WHO data the newly published factsheets are based on, in some countries of the WHO European Region, up to 60% of children are exposed to SHS at home, making it a significant public health concern. The factsheets are for both the general public and for policy makers.
More Information from: KRYUCHKOV, Igor
Better Data for Better Health
Paraguay: The Pan American STEPS Survey for the Surveillance of Noncommunicable Diseases and Risk Factors
The institutions in Paraguay that collaborated in carrying out the Second National Survey of Risk Factors
for Noncommunicable Diseases met to analyze the results obtained at the country level. The activity was carried out with the participation of teams from the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare (MSPyBS), the National Institute of Statistics (INE), and the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO). STEPS is an essential surveillance tool that can be used to conduct public health surveillance within populations. It is also designed to help countries build and strengthen their surveillance capacity. It allows countries to monitor policies and programs related to NCDs and their risk factors. STEPS also helps countries report on global, regional, and national commitments, including the Global Monitoring Framework (GMF); countries implementing a STEPS survey can obtain data to report on seven of the nine global targets in the Global Monitoring
Framework for NCDs.
For further information contact Caixeta, Dra. Roberta
Investing in Country Health Information Systems to Accelerate Progress Towards Health-related SDGs
For more information contact: RILEY, Leanne Margaret
Jordan’s Mental Health Strategy
WHO, UNDP Jordan & UNITAF meet with Minister of Health to discuss the mental health situation in Jordan
As part of the #MentalHealth Investment Case mission to Jordan, experts from the World Health Organization's country, regional and HQ offices together with UNDP Jordan and UNITAF met with the H.E Prof Feras Hawari, Minister of Health to discuss the mental health situation in Jordan. The meeting included discussions on the implementation of Jordan’s Mental Health Strategy 2022-26 and the rise in mental health related substance abuse, especially among young people, throughout the country. This effort will aim to strengthen policies and increase interest and investment in mental health which is a major goal for public health and sustainable development reflected in the 2030 agenda for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Mental Health Investment Case in Jordan is an excellent example of the collaboration between the government, international organizations, and development partners to address critical public health challenges. The Ministry of Health, WHO, UN Inter-Agency Task Force on NCDs (UNIATF), and UNDP remain committed to working together to implement the interventions outlined in the Investment Case and to improving mental health services in Jordan.
For further information contact ALFAR, Hadeel
Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative
WHO Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative: from call to action to global movement
For the first time in history, the world has resolved to eliminate a cancer! Read about how WHO's cervical cancer elimination initiative grew from a call to action to global movement. Released today, on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly, our story of working with the global community to eliminate cervical cancer.
For further information: Slim SLAMA
Ethiopia holds Dialogue on Unhealthy Products
Ethiopia holds a High-level Policy Dialogue on Addressing Unhealthy Products through Fiscal Measures
The World Health Organization in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Food and Drugs Authority organized a high-level policy dialogue on addressing unhealth products through fiscal measures in Addis Ababa from 26-27 April 2023. The policy dialogue was aimed at deliberating on the growing trends of non-communicable diseases and injuries (NCDIs) in Ethiopia, their risk factors with the focus on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and the importance of taking effective fiscal measures to curb the impacts of NCDIs including premature deaths and disabilities. The two-day meeting that produced policy recommendations to strengthen national response to NCDIs demonstrates the commitment of the government. In attendance was the Minister of Health, State Minister, Ministry of Women and Social Affairs, Acting World Health Organization, General Director of Federal Food and Drugs Authority (EFDA) Members of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia House of Representatives, directors from the Ministries of Finance, Revenue, and Federal Customs Commission; executive directors of civil societies; program managers and NCD experts from FDA, MoH, and WHO.
For further information: Wassihun M. BELAY
Diabetes: Ghana’s Spotlight Event
“Promoting partnerships for diabetes prevention and control”
A high-level meeting organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of Ghana took place where stakeholders shared ideas on how to strengthen and monitor diabetes responses within national non-communicable disease programmes. In the meeting, called “Promoting partnerships for diabetes prevention and control”, WHO and the World Diabetes Foundation (WDF) agreed to develop and implement a joint integrative project in Ghana and Uganda. This builds on the International Strategic Dialogue on Non-communicable Diseases (NCD) hosted in April. Ghana has developed the National NCD Policy and Strategy to provide policy guidance and strategies to prevent and control diabetes to exhibit the level of commitment. Ghana signed on to the Global NCD Compact as well as the WHO Global Diabetes Compact in response to the increasing burden of diabetes around the world. The surveillance systems of the country were currently being strengthened to ensure quality data capture and its utilization at all levels of the healthcare system to generate metrics and key indicators to inform policy and strategy.
For further information contact: ANSONG, Joana
Please send your updates for inclusion in the next edition of the NCDs Newsflash: kennedyan@who.int
