Secretary-General, in Message to Conference on Non-communicable Diseases,

 

Urges Strong Commitment to Halt ‘Global Epidemic’ of Ailments

 

Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message, delivered by Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), to the First Global Ministerial Meeting on Healthy Lifestyles and Non-Communicable Disease Control, in Moscow on 28-29 April:

This unprecedented meeting — the first ministerial conference on non-communicable diseases — is evidence of a new and positive trend:  the world is paying attention to non-communicable diseases as never before.  This focus comes at the highest political level, with world leaders poised to hold the first-ever high-level meeting on the issue at the United Nations in September.

Chronic illnesses influenced by diet, tobacco consumption and other individual behaviours were long thought to be diseases of affluence.  That is clearly not the case.  The World Health Organization estimates that nearly 9 out of 10 people who die from non-communicable diseases under the age of 60 live in the developing world.  They have less protection from the risks and consequences of these diseases than people in the developed world.

Your discussions today and tomorrow are critical to laying the groundwork for success in September.  Our aim must be strong international commitment to stop the global epidemic of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and other non-communicable diseases, particularly in developing countries.

There are important measures that Governments can take, such as raising taxes on tobacco and enacting agricultural incentives that generate more healthy food options.  At the same time, we need all partners to join this global campaign.

Civil society groups can raise awareness about the causes and consequences of non-communicable diseases.  We need businesses to promote healthy habits and act responsibly to minimize and eliminate heath risks posed by their industries.  And we need individuals to make healthier choices, including by eating healthier foods, exercising regularly and avoiding tobacco products.

The United Nations system, for its part, is examining the problem of non-communicable diseases from all angles:  from health to food security, from trade to migration, from environmental sustainability to economic development and beyond.  The success of our collective efforts can reverberate across other areas, with benefits for the economy, the environment and our campaign to reach all of the Millennium Development Goals.

I welcome your engagement, and I especially thank the organizers for their vision in mobilizing the international community on this important global public health threat.  Your work complements the broader United Nations campaign for a more healthy world.  The Global Strategy for Women and Children’s Health is up and running.  Partners from across the spectrum are preparing for the United Nations High-level Meeting on AIDS in June.  And we are uniting as never before to fight other infectious diseases.  These efforts will strengthen health systems and benefit people around the world.

Therefore it is with a real sense of moment — and great expectations for what we can achieve — that I wish you great success.

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For information media • not an official record