Such diseases may result from genetic or lifestyle factors. Current evidence indicates that four types of NCDs (i.e. cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases) account for almost two third of all deaths globally, with 80 per cent of these deaths occurring in low-income and middle-income countries.
NCDs are a leading threat to health and development. Yet, these diseases are preventable. By eliminating shared risk factors such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and the harmful use of alcohol, almost 80 per cent of heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes and over a third of all cancers could be prevented. In addition, improved disease management can reduce morbidity, disability and death and contribute to better health outcomes. Overall, proven cost-effective strategies do exist to prevent and control this growing burden.
NCDs prevention is fully consistent with IFRC Strategy 2020 under Strategic Aim 2 - To enable healthy and safe living. It encourages “action on the underlying social, behavioural and environmental factors that determine good health” and helps to achieve “better personal and community health and more inclusive public health systems."
Watch the interview of Dr Ayham Alomari on how the Red Cross Red Crescent can do more, better and reach out further to prevent NCDs in the most affected countries.