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According to a recent WHO global status report, non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the world’s leading killer, are on the rise. Of the 36.1 million people who died in 2008 of heart disease, stroke, chronic lung disease, cancer and diabetes, nearly 80 per cent were from low and middle-income countries. “The rise of chronic noncommunicable diseases presents an enormous challenge,” said WHO directorgeneral Dr Margaret Chan, adding that for some countries, it was an impending disaster for health, society, and mostly, for national economy as millions are pushed below the poverty line every year due to the burden of NCDs.
The report states that cardiovascular diseases account for the death of 17
, million people annually, fol lowed by cancer (7.6 mil lion), respiratory disease (4.2 million), and diabetes (1.3 million). The four com mon risk factors for acquir ing these diseases are tobac co use, physical inactivity, alcohol and poor diet. Stronger anti-tobacco controls and promoting healthier diets, physical activity, and reducing alcohol usage along with improving people’s access to essential healthcare can prevent the increase of NCD deaths, said health officials.
“About 30 per cent of people dying from NCDs in low and middle income countries are aged under 60 and are in their most productive period of life. The irony is that these deaths are pre
ventable,“ said Dr Ala Alwan, WHO assistant director-general for noncommunicable diseases and mental health. Without action, NCDs might kill 52 million people annually by 2030, he added.
With spiralling health costs, measures to control NCDs are being pushed by WHO such as raising taxes on tobacco, banning tobacco advertising and legislating to curb smoking in public places.



Credits - DC