Reducing the Burden from Non-Communicable Diseases: A Global Concern

Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) include cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases. Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, lack of physical inactivity, alcoholism, hypertension and obesity are commonly recognized risk factors for NCDs. NCDs are leading health problems in almost all countries and their magnitude is increasing. However, the poor and lower echelon of the population are disproportionately affected. In Africa and Asia NCDs have been implicated to be the cause for 35.6% of deaths. While under-nutrition kills in early life, it can also lead to increased risk of NCDs [1]. About, half of adult NCD deaths have been noted to be in the 15-64 year age group [2]. In 2012, WHO member states at the world health assembly passed a resolution targeted at reducing premature deaths from NCDs by 25% by 2050 [3].