WHO Urges Action to Curb Deaths Caused By Noncommunicable Diseases
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ALAIN GROSCLAUDE/AFP/Getty Images(GENEVA) — The World Health Organization urged action Monday, noting that noncommunicable diseases — such as cancer, diabetes, heart and lung diseases and stroke — claim millions of lives each year.
A new WHO report found that of the 38 million lives lost to noncommunicable diseases in 2012, 16 million were premature and avoidable.
“By investing just $1 to $3 per person per year, countries can dramatically reduce illness and death from NCDs,” WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said.
Deaths caused by NCDs are especially high in low- and middle-income countries, the WHO said, with 82 percent of the 16 million premature deaths occurring in those nations.
Among the high-impact recommendations made by the WHO are the banning of tobacco advertising, replacing trans fats with polyunsaturated fats, restricting or banning alcohol advertising, preventing heart attacks and strokes, promoting breastfeeding, implementing public awareness programs on diet and physical activity, and implementing cervical cancer screening.
“In 2015, every country needs to set national targets and implement cost-effective actions,” Chan added. “If they do not, millions of lives will continue to be lost too soon.”
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