This document discusses accelerating regional implementation of the Political Declaration on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) from 2018. It provides an overview of the burden of NCDs including obesity, diabetes, and mortality rates. It notes that while progress has been made since the RC59-RC66 resolutions, more action is needed in areas like high-level commitment, prevention, health systems, and surveillance. The updated regional framework strengthens governance, prevention of risk factors like air pollution, integration of NCD care into primary healthcare and emergencies, and cancer surveillance. Member states are urged to endorse the framework, ensure high-level leadership, prioritize cost-effective NCD interventions, strengthen data and accountability, and expand N

1. Tehran,
Islamic Republic of Iran
14 –17 October 2019
Agenda item 3(e)
Dr Slim Slama, Regional Adviser,
Noncommunicable Diseases
Prevention
Accelerating regional implementation of
the Political Declaration on NCDs
(2018)

2. Isra lives in Zataari
camp…
2
Photograph courtesy of Tanya Habjouqa

3. ENOUGH
IS
ENOUGH
3

4. 0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Regio
Global
Age-standardized rate of overweight among
adults, 20002014 (%)
BMI ≥ 25
Source: WHO Global Health Observatory Data Repository (2016)
Africa
Americas
South-East Asia
Europe
Eastern Mediterranean
Western Pacific
Global
4

5. 0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
Regio
n
Global
Age-standardized rate of raised fasting blood
glucose among adults, 20002014 (%)
Africa
Americas
South-East Asia
Europe
Eastern Mediterranean
Western Pacific
Global
5

6. Mortality attributed to all NCDs per 100 000
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Region
Global
Source: WHO Global Health Observatory Data Repository (2016)
Africa
Americas
South-East Asia
Europe
Eastern Mediterranean
Western Pacific
Global
6

7. Reduce
premature
deaths by
one third by
2030
7

8. RC59RC66: Have we done enough?
8
 Lack of high-level
commitment/resources
 Prevention not sufficiently
prioritized
 No consideration of
environmental risk
factors
 No/weak institutionalization
of NCD
surveillance/cancer
registries
 Limited consideration of
health system
requirements
 10 operational NCD
multisectoral action
plans
 Reduction of salt, sugar,
fat and tobacco
 Better use of taxation
 Stronger NCD
surveillance
 NCDs in health benefit
packages and
emergencies

9. Enough return on investment?
9
Source: Saving lives, spending less. Geneva: WHO; 2018.

10. What is new in the updated framework?
1
0
* In line with Plan of action for the regional implementation
of the roadmap to enhance the global response to the
adverse health effects of air pollution 2017–2021
 NCD investment case  High-level multisectoral
mechanism
GOVERNANCE
 Reduce exposure to air
pollution*
 A system to monitor air quality
 Estimations of health impact
PREVENTION AND REDUCTION OF RISK FACTORS
 NCD integration in PHC in stable and emergency settings
 Implementation of regional framework on cancer
HEALTH CARE
 Population-based cancer
registry
SURVEILLANCE, MONITORING AND EVALUATION

11. Tool for NCD integration in primary health
care
1
1
 Assessment of health system readiness
 Promotes inclusion of NCD primary health
care services in benefit packages for UHC
 Divided by 3 country groups and 6 health
system building blocks
Tool has been used in:
 Djibouti
 Islamic Republic of Iran
 Saudi Arabia
 Sudan

12. What next for Member States?
We urge Member States to endorse the
updated regional framework
 Ensure leadership at the highest level of
government and make an economic case for
action on NCDs
 Prioritize and scale up NCD Best Buys
 Strengthen data and accountability mechanisms
 Embed and expand NCDs within UHC
1
2

13. Thank you
Photograph courtesy of Tanya Habjouqa
1
3