United Nations High-level Meeting on Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control

Diana Gosálvez Prados — last modified 7/09/2011 12:48

The four main noncommunicable diseases - cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung diseases and diabetes - kill three in five people worldwide, and cause great socioeconomic harm within all countries, particularly developing nations.

The United Nations General Assembly is convening a High-level Meeting on the Prevention and Control Noncommunicable Diseases, which presents a unique opportunity for the international community to take action against the epidemic, save millions of lives and enhance development initiatives.

The High-level Meeting will address the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases worldwide, with a particular focus on developmental and other challenges and social and economic impacts, particularly for developing countries.

WHO has facilitated regional consultations of Member States to give governments the opportunity to contribute, particularly by identifying the challenges posed by noncommunicable diseases in their countries and the measures that exist to start reversing the epidemic.